Commercial Surface Design for Fashion, Interiors, and Textiles with foundation year

In December 2024, the University of Bolton was granted permission by the Office for Students (OfS) to change its name to the University of Greater Manchester with immediate effect. While we work to update our systems, you may see both names used in the information we provide.

The multi-disciplinary global surface design industry covers design fields such as surface pattern, illustration, photography, graphic art and fine print. Our BA (Hons) Commercial Surface Design for Fashion, Interiors, and Textiles with foundation year course offers a unique opportunity to work with our extensive industry partners through live project briefs, placements and trade exhibitions across fashion and interior surfaces, through tableware, packaging design, stationery, homeware, to automotive, wallcoverings and wall art.

The University of Greater Manchester's BA (Hons) Commercial Surface Design for Fashion, Interiors, and Textiles with foundation year course is a dynamic undergraduate degree employing the creative disciplines of illustration, surface design, graphics and photography. Throughout the course, theory-informed practice will help you develop a broad portfolio of traditional and digital design skills.

The foundation year allows you to discover and strengthen research, design, practical and communication skills that are essential for success as you study Commercial Surface Design for Fashion, Interiors, and Textiles. You'll explore an array of core techniques relating to the creative arts industries, including drawing, painting, sculpting, and finishing techniques, investigating both traditional and digital technologies. The foundation year also aims to build your confidence in academic skills such as literature searching, academic referencing and written and oral communication techniques.

As you progress through the course, we'll introduce you to the varied working practices of studio designers in the industry and guide you as you investigate the range of materials and products surface designers create. Our expert team will support you to experiment with multi-disciplinary materials and techniques. You can take advantage of our print and embellishment facilities for fabric, paper, wood, plastic, metal, glass and ceramics and explore the possibilities and potential of digital embroidery, laser cutting and printing. You'll also benefit from opportunities to work in our specialist workshops, including photographic studios with dark rooms, industry-standard computer suites running the latest design software, and textile and fine print workshops, as well as in our spacious design studios.

This highly creative course is taught by dedicated professionals with extensive experience in research, design, self-promotion, selling and exhibiting. You'll have the chance to showcase your work to international manufacturers and design studios at trade show events, where continuous links with the industry confirm our up-to-date course content. Our graduates can gain impressive studio positions or operate as freelance creatives designing for both national and international companies.

A key focus of the course is on developing your commercial awareness and entrepreneurial skills. These include marketing yourself, exhibiting work nationally and internationally, working in design studios and how to start your own business. We'll support you in planning for a successful career and exploring alternative choices in the wider creative industries. We also aim to help you develop lifelong learning skills so that you can take ownership of your professional development for the future and maximise your potential for success.

By studying for your BA (Hons) Commercial Surface Design for Fashion, Interiors, and Textiles with foundation year course at the University of Greater Manchester, you can develop essential knowledge and skills in traditional and digital surface design while experiencing life at our supportive, student-focused, multicultural campus.

The University of Greater Manchester puts your needs first, offering a supportive and positive environment so you can achieve your chosen goals. They're all about small class sizes that allow them to know their students by name, courses designed in consultation with industry experts and continued multi-million-pound investment in facilities.

Highlights include:

Bolton One – their £31 million health and sports centre with a modern gym, 15m climbing wall, 25m swimming pool and a competition-level trampoline

National Centre for Motorsports Engineering (NCME) - the only centre in the UK of its kind, staffed by an incredibly experienced team dedicated to preparing students for employment.

School of the Arts – including photography studios, darkrooms, 2D and 3D art workshops and a fully operating theatre.

With their student-focused university approach, the University of Greater Manchester will support your ambitions and ensure you get to enjoy #UniAsItShouldBe.