Careers in Curriculum

Trust Career Adviser

Part of the Nicholas Postgate Catholic Academy Trust

Why study Textile Design

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What do Textile Design graduate do?

Textile Design as a Career

Studying a creative degree can open up a range of career opportunities. Hear how Chloe’s time on our BA (Hons) Textile Design course helped her discover her dream career.

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Typical Employers

Employers of textile design graduates include:

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• design studios and consultancies
• large fashion and design companies
• small specialist design companies
• manufacturing and processing companies that produce clothing, soft furnishings and other textile-based products
• interior design and decoration services
• private clients.

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Textile design is a global industry and you may find opportunities to work abroad or with an international company.

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Jobs related to a Textile Design Degree

Job profile examples including Labour Market Information click on links below:

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• Clothing/textile technologist
• Colour technologist
• Illustrator
• Interior and spatial designer
• Fashion designer
• Textile designer

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Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

• Community arts worker
• Conservator
• Further education teacher
• Graphic designer
• Higher education lecturer
• Printmaker
• Product designer
• Retail buyer
• Secondary school teacher
• Stylist
• Visual merchandiser

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£20,000 to £80,000Average UK salary in 2019 was £30,378 (source Office for National Statistics)

40 to 42 a week

You could work: evenings / weekends / bank holidays; attending events or appointments

Will increase by 1% in the future

There will be 1% more Fashion designing jobs in 2026.

Fashion Designer

Fashion Designer

• working to design instructions
• analysing or predicting trends in fabrics, colours and shapes
• producing concept and mood boards (a collection of items to capture a mood, like photos, fabric pieces or colour samples)
• producing designs by hand or by using computer-aided design (CAD)
• developing basic shapes ('blocks') through patterns
• estimating costs for materials and manufacture
• finding suppliers
• supervising the making up of sample clothing items
• making in-house presentations, for example to finance departments and merchandisers

Studying a Textile Design degree develops skills in:

Textile design students develop an understanding and experience of using different textile processes and techniques, such as:

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• constructed textiles (such as knitted, woven, stitched and manipulated textiles)
• digital textiles (focusing on textiles for fashion or interiors)
• mixed media textiles.

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You also learn to use computer-aided design (CAD), critically evaluate and interpret materials, research designs and predict trends, and communicate with clients, manufacturing staff, buyers and retailers.

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Studying a Textile Design degree develops other skills in:

• The ability to work independently, set goals, manage your own workload and meet deadlines
• Project management - to see the design project through from conception to completion
• Attention to detail
• IT and technical skills
• Marketing and commercial awareness
• The ability to work effectively with others through collaboration, teamwork and negotiation
• Communication and presentation
• The ability to work to deadlines and a budget
• Research and analytical skills
• Resourcefulness.

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