Textile Design: How to Become a Textile Designer in 5 Steps
Do you love the patterns and textures of antiques? Do patterns in fabrics intrigue you? Do you want to take your DIY decorating projects one step further? Perhaps you should have a career in textile design. Schools offering Art degrees can also be found in these popular choices.
What Is Textile Design?
Textile design is the process of creating art in material using techniques such as netting, spinning, knitting, embroidery, felting, painting, digital imagery, drying and weaving, among others. As a textile designer, you explore culture and art in creating 2-dimensional patterns that can be repeated on a variety of products that incorporate textiles. You incorporate color trends, learn about the production and application of textiles and use state-of-the-art industry technology and traditional art tools.
Step 1: Choose a Career Option
As a textile designer you can work in the fashion industry designing fabrics and patterns for clothing, or you can work in interior design creating textiles for everything from chairs to wallpaper. You can also work with other types of clients or merchandising departments to create future fabric groups, or be a color forecaster. You could design textiles for products to be manufactured on a large scale, or you could design smaller-scale art pieces and small batch products.
Step 2: Prepare for Formal Education in Textile Design
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2009, formal education is not required, and many workers in the textile industry have only a high school diploma (www.bls.gov). However, many textile designers do choose to pursue postsecondary training in fashion or clothing design.
Step 3: Complete Formal Education in Textile Design
While enrolled in a textile program, such as a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Fiber Science or Master of Fine Arts, you will take a variety of courses in areas such as color theory and apparel production, computer-aided design, textiles and industry economics. Because textiles are an important part of all cultures' art and archeology, you may be required to take historic costume and cultural history classes. Some programs also offer classes on culturally and socially responsible design.
Step 4: Keep Your Skills Up to Date
You will need to constantly learn more about the profession and be willing to learn new techniques and methods as necessary. You'll want to keep up to date on the latest trends and developments in the textile industry.
Step 5: Learn a Foreign Language
You may need to learn a foreign language. Much of the apparel industry has moved to other counties, according to the BLS in 2011 (www.bls.gov). Education opportunities exist in textile programs in fashion centers such as Madrid and Milan, and some of the classes are taught in multiple languages.
To continue researching, browse degree options below for course curriculum, prerequisites and financial aid information. Or, learn more about the subject by reading the related articles below:
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