MA Textile Design Innovation at Nottingham Trent University

This course gives you the opportunity to explore and develop your skills in the specialist areas of printed, embroidered, knitted, woven, laser cut or multimedia textiles. You'll devise an individual project and we will support your creative thinking and experimentation, helping you to develop new or smart design concepts, fabrications and prototypes.

Key features

• Work alongside other MA Fashion, Textiles and Knitwear Design students in our dedicated postgraduate studio
• Have access to a wide range of traditional and digital textile design equipment, including laser cutting, multi-head embroidery, screen, digital and 3D printing, Jacquard weaving, and Shima Seiki and Stoll power knitting
• Benefit from the professional expertise of our academic staff, researchers and visiting designers such as Orsola de Castro, Dr. Katherine Townsend, Karen Nicol, Kit Miles, Lisa Salama, Hannah Croft, Angharad Mclaren, Jo Cope, and Moxham
• Work with fellow students, practitioners and academic staff from different cultures and backgrounds
• Have the opportunity to visit London and join European study trips to Florence, Antwerp and Paris
• Take advantage of our excellent industry links
• Be selected to exhibit at New Designers in London and have an opportunity to be selected for TexSelect (formerly Texprint)
• Opt for a 20 credit point advanced research module if you’re thinking of progressing to PhD or Professional Doctorate study
• We are proud to be in the top ten in England and Wales for Art and Design (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020)

Careers and employability

Career Prospects

This course leads to a wide range of career opportunities including:

• textile designer
• technologist
• buyer
• merchandiser
• production manager
• trend forecasting
• styling for fashion and interior textile companies

You could also work for brands developing innovative design and wearable technologies. Some graduates use this course to support careers in teaching, lecturing, journalism and progression to MPhil or PhD study.

Recent graduates have set up their own successful businesses, or work within related careers in the fashion and textile design sector. Others have returned to their previous job with a renewed focus and enhanced career prospects.

If you are interested in starting your own creative business, the University provides start-up training and support through The Hive, our centre for entrepreneurship and enterprise.

Connections with Industry

You will have the opportunity to take up short periods of work experience, learn entrepreneurship skills through business development courses and attend events held by our Employability team and other organisations. You will also be encouraged to undertake research into fashion, textile or knitwear design companies, or appropriate contexts, for retailing or showcasing your completed project.

In addition to the main focus of your project as set out in the project proposal, you are encouraged to enter national and international competitions such as the Textile Society Postgraduate Award, Hand and Lock Prize for Embroidery, FESPA Printeriors Design Competition and The Bradford Textile Society Design Competition. Prestigious competitions provide you with opportunities to demonstrate and promote your creative and technical skills and ability to answer an industry brief to a global audience, that can lead to employment and press opportunities.