Textile designer

Textile designers create designs for printed, woven and knitted fabrics, carpets and wall-coverings. As well as keeping up with current fashion trends, textile designers need to understand how textiles can be used to make things.

Also known as

Cloth designer

Work activities

Textile designers create designs for woven, printed and knitted fabrics, carpets, wall-coverings and soft furnishings. Their duties vary according to where they work. Textile designers who work for a small company may spend most of their time reworking traditional designs. For example, those working for a small worsted company may be required to change the design of an existing woollen cloth, perhaps adding an extra stripe to a pinstriped design.

Large design companies usually employ a small team of textile designers who create original designs. However, these designs usually have to fit a particular house style or image. In some cases, companies buy designs from freelance designers and pass them to their own in-house designers to adapt them.

When they have finished the design, they send it to a print laboratory where a sample can be made up and passed on to the design director to examine and comment on. Designer-craftworkers usually make their own samples. The textile designer may also be responsible for preparing colourways or swatches. These are small pieces or sections of the finished article that they can show to a buying team and retailers. These give everyone involved in the design process a better idea of the appearance and texture of the final product.

Personal qualities and skills

As a textile designer, you need:

Artistic and creative skills.
Knowledge of texture, patterns, dyes and yarns.
An understanding of colour, shape and form.
Knowledge of design-related software.
Good communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
To work to deadlines and budgets.
Problem-solving skills.
Good organisation and planning skills.
To pay attention to fine detail.
To keep up to date with new textile design developments.
Practical craft skills.
Self-employed or freelance textile designers will need business and marketing skills.

Pay and opportunities

Pay rates for textile designers vary with employer and responsibilities. The pay rates given are approximate. Textile designers earn in the range of £18,000-£40,000 per year.

Textile designers usually work a basic 40-42-hour week, Monday to Friday. Working hours for self-employed designers may be irregular, depending on the project they are working on. Late finishes and weekend work may be required from time to time, especially as deadlines approach.

Employers include in-house design units of textile manufacturers, and specialist studios that work for a number of manufacturers. Traditionally, textile firms are based in the East Midlands, the North West, Scotland, Yorkshire and Northern Ireland.

Self-employment opportunities occur for textile designers to work as self-employed, freelance designers in consultancy and fixed-term contract work. You can obtain this work through specialist recruitment agencies.

What’s happening in this work area?

The design sector now operates in a very commercial global market, including strong economies, for example, India and China. However, the strong growth of the UK service industry has led to the opening up of new markets and helped the design sector to achieve a position of strength. Technology has helped to greatly speed up the design process, making it possible for designers to take on many more projects. However, fewer people are now required to complete tasks, resulting in a very competitive recruitment market.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in design industry magazines/journals, on all the major job boards, and on the Government’s Find a Job or Find an Apprenticeship services. It’s a good idea to build up a network of relevant contacts, as not all textile design jobs are advertised. Making speculative job applications to potential employers can be useful.

Entry routes and training

A common route into this career is via a foundation course in art and design followed by a degree, HND or foundation degree in a subject such as textile or fashion design.

A level 3 (advanced) fashion studio assistant apprenticeship may give you a grounding in textile design as well.

Your training will mainly be on-the-job. City & Guilds offers qualifications in manufacturing textiles and creative techniques in textiles.

Many designers become self-employed. With experience, some move into senior roles within an organisation.

Qualifications

The usual entry requirements for a relevant foundation course are:

One to two A-levels. You’ll need an A-level in art or in an art-based subject.
GCSEs at grades 9-4 in four to five subjects. Some courses ask that you have a pass in English.

Alternatives to A levels include:

A BTEC level 3 National Diploma in art and design.
Advanced apprenticeship.
International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma

You will need to be 16 with two A-levels and GCSEs in English and maths to take an advanced apprenticeship.

The entry requirements for relevant HNDs and foundation degrees are similar to those needed for the foundation course mentioned above. If you go on to a degree directly, you’ll usually need:

Two or more A-levels. Many courses ask that you have at least a B grade in an art-based subject.
Four to five GCSEs at grades 9-4. A pass in English is often required.

To enter any course in art and design, you’ll need a portfolio of your work.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: It is illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Skills gained as an assistant in a design studio or workshop, or in a design consultancy are valued. Commercial awareness and an understanding of the textiles industry may give you an advantage. To enter the work or relevant courses, a portfolio of work showing your creative ability is normally required.

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (e.g. Access to Art and Design) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details. They can lead to relevant degree/HND courses. It’s also possible to do a part-time art foundation course, which leads to a degree or HND course. Higher National Certificate (HNC) courses are also available part-time, often in the evenings and/or in the daytime. Various universities and education institutions offer textile-related BA and MA degrees, via part-time study or distance learning.

Related careers

Costume designer
Designer
Fashion designer
Footwear designer
Furniture designer
Interior/exhibition designer
Packaging designer
Textile technologist