Textile Design

BA (Hons) Textile Design at The Glasgow School of Art prepares students for potential future careers in textiles, fashion, interiors, product, automotive, film and television, material innovation, colour, trend forecasting or other creative areas. The programme offers the opportunity to investigate the exciting possibilities and breadth of textile design, learning from textile traditions whilst looking to the future to contribute to and challenge the discipline.

The curriculum consists of an exciting range of practical and theoretical courses, which vary in length within and across the two academic semesters each year. Project-based learning is central to the studio courses, which encourage curiosity and risk-taking. This evolves to develop students’ creative identity through skills development, exploration of research, drawing, colour, design, technical and material investigation, sampling, production and visualisation of textiles.

Stage 1 studio courses provide foundations in textile design skills, built upon during Stage 2, alongside technical skill acquisition and design application in the pathways of weave, knit, print and embroidery. Towards the end of Stage 2, supported and guided by staff, students reflect upon their learning experiences and apply to study one of these pathways. Design and technical skills advance during Stage 3 through design projects. Stage 4 builds on knowledge, understanding, processes and skills acquired in previous stages. Through self-directed study, students explore individual themes and concepts towards creative aspirations.

Studio and workshop learning promotes innovation through making, heritage techniques, digital skills and design processes. We value analogue and digital methods to inform and generate new interpretations and solutions. Sustainable and responsible thinking and design continue to evolve and inform approaches, practices and outcomes.

Within the programme, Studio courses provide a series of incremental project-based experiences with opportunities to reflect upon learning as it develops towards building a critical practice. Design History and Theory courses explore critical and contextual perspectives, and courses shared with other programmes, including Co-Lab and Design Domain, foster expanded perspectives by connecting broader domains of learning and knowledge. Opportunities for student international exchanges, collaborative learning, industry projects, and careers and enterprise experiences help support how students develop graduate skills and attributes.

The programme aims to create assured and specialist textile design graduates with individual and creative identities prepared for employment, self-employment and postgraduate study. The work of our graduates demonstrates uniqueness and diversity in terms of ideas, concepts, processes and practices towards individual interests and creative aspirations. Our graduates work in industry, with community groups, set up their own practices and businesses, or continue their educational journeys.

Founded in 1845, the Glasgow School of Art is one of the few remaining independent art schools in the UK. With a proven history of producing some of the world’s most influential and successful artists, designers and architects, the GSA’s studio-based specialist, practice-led education draws talented individuals with a shared passion and concern for visual culture from all over the world. The GSA has produced nine Turner Prize winners and world-renowned alumni, including Jasleen Kaur, Jenny Saville, Douglas Gordon and Alberta Whittle.

In 2026, the GSA was ranked 3rd in the UK and 8th in the world in the QS World University Subject Rankings.