Contemporary fashion and textile design is a vibrant discipline where you can bring your creative visions to life. In an ever-changing world the future has many exciting and fascinating opportunities for designers to innovate with new processes, techniques and ideas. So this course is for anyone with an artistic flair and creative mind.
Here is why you should take this course:
You can express your unique style and creativity through the creation of 2D and 3D textile based projects exploring the fundamental elements and principles of art and design.
You can work in a specialist textile studio fully equipped with the latest computerised technology, digital printmaking equipment, mannequins and machinery.
You can develop an expertise in handling, draping and modelling natural & synthetic fibres and fabrics (woven, knitted and bonded) mark make using paints, eco-friendly dyes, threads, digital processes and become a highly skilled and accomplished textile artist.
You can connect with professionals and study designers and artists in the creative industries and gain valuable insights and stay on the cutting edge of design trends.
You can investigate art and design traditions around the globe and incorporate cultural elements into your work.
You can communicate ideas and develop an understanding and full appreciation of the principles of design.
You can enhance your critical thinking and problem solving skills as you tackle design challenges that prepare you for a wide range of creative careers. You can choose your preferred focus - Fashion Design, Costume Design, Art Textiles, Textile Design & Surface Pattern or Interior Design.
Personal Portfolio (Coursework): You will produce 1 or 2 major units of work for this section. Working with either one in depth theme or two different themes you will explore a variety of media in a journal and produce 2D or 3D outcomes. This creative process is highly rewarding and stimulating. All work is assessed internally and moderated externally. The Personal Portfolio is worth 60% of the overall mark. Externally Set Assignment (ESA): The externally set assignment is a given theme set by the exam board. You are given a question paper eight school weeks prior to the exam and must produce research and development studies in a journal during this period in preparation for the exam. At the end of this preparatory period, there will be a 10-hour controlled assessment period, over two days, when a final outcome should be produced using a medium or media of your choice, for example a 2D or 3D textile outcome. This externally set assignment is worth 40% of the overall mark.
Assessment Objectives:
AO1: develop ideas through investigations informed by contextual and other sources, demonstrating analytical and cultural understanding AO2: refine ideas through experimenting and selecting appropriate resources, media, materials, techniques and processes AO3: record ideas, observations and insights relevant to their intentions in visual and/or other forms AO4: present a personal, informed and meaningful response demonstrating analytical and critical understanding, realising intentions and, where appropriate, making connections between visual, written, oral or other elements
Is this course for me?
The course develops a student’s ability to manage and communicate ideas, to think creatively, to experiment, take risks and consider different perspectives and to problem solve and consider alternative solutions. These are highly desirable attributes. This course is also an excellent option for those students who enjoy and wish to continue their creative studies and further their enjoyment of this area. It is a must for those students who are more serious about pursuing a career path in textiles as this course will provide extensive opportunities to work directly with fabrics, textile & 3D modelling processes and machinery. The personal portfolio will reflect this when applying for future courses.
Post 16 Pathways
The business of design, fashion and textiles is of major global importance and significance with extensive career opportunities extending to, retail, marketing, theatre, performance arts, product design, architecture, manufacturing, and journalism. It can also lead to other diverse fields such as advertising, architecture, publishing and the media. Art & Design:Textiles is useful for many other careers where creative thinking and problem solving skills are required.
The Art & Design:Textile course leads well into the following pathways:Group 4 IB Design, Group 6 IB Visual Arts and BTEC Level 3 Design pathways.
For Further Information: Please see Ms Vivien Benson, Leading teacher of Textiles or Mr James Playford, Head of the Technology Faculty