Why Textiles?
Textiles now have such a wide range of applications that they affect every aspect of our daily lives - in addition to the most obvious applications of clothing and furnishings; today they are used in all kinds of machinery, for medical purposes and in civil engineering. Product design is concerned with emulating manufacturing systems that are relevant to the modern day world i.e. following the design process from design brief through to the finished product.
Course Overview
Unit 1 – Materials, Components and Application
In this unit, students look at materials and components, processes and manufacture and design and market influences.
Unit 2 – Learning Through Designing and Making
This is a design and make unit where knowledge of the AS subject content is applied to the design and making of students’ own projects. It could be a single design and make project, two smaller projects and/or a portfolio of work.
Unit 3 – Design and Manufacture
In this unit, students look at materials and components, processes and manufacture and design and market influences in greater depth.
Unit 4 – Design and Making Practice
This is a design and make unit where knowledge of the AS and A2 subject content is applied to the design and making of a student’s own project. Students submit evidence of a single, substantial designing and making activity which consists of a design folder and a manufactured outcome.
Assessment
AS Level assessment is by written examination on Materials, Components and Application and coursework on Learning Through Designing and Making. A2 Level is assessed by written examination on Design and Manufacture and coursework on Design and Making Practice.
Beyond A Level
The textiles industry is an extremely important sector of the British manufacturing industry and British fashion designers are world leaders in all the major fashion centres. Studying Textiles promotes logical and critical thinking (problem solving) during the design process that can be applied across the curriculum and to everyday life.
Textiles combines with any A Levels to provide a broad base for many University courses. Many students who study Textiles choose to continue their enthusiasm for the subject at University following courses such as Management and Marketing of Textiles; Fashion and Textiles Management; Textiles/Fashion design etc.