Textile Design BA (Hons)
Explore the broad context and future of textile design to identify professional interests alongside developing creative, technical and industry skills.
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Course Duration
3 or 4 Year options
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Course Options
- Diploma Year
- Intergrated Foundation Year
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Typical Offer
104-120 UCAS Tariff Points
- How to Apply Request a prospectus
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Annual Fees
- Home (full-time) £9,790
- Overseas (full-time) £18,860
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UCAS code
- W231 (3 Year), W235 (4 Year)
- Institution code: N39
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Course Start
September 2026
BA (Hons) Textile Design is for the curious, creative student who wants to explore surface, pattern, material, digital and traditional textile processes for interiors and beyond. You’ll design and make solutions for environments, bodies and artefacts and drive change in how we think about textile consumption, inclusivity and identity. You’ll be unconstrained by specialism and can explore a range of making processes. You’ll be encouraged to develop your unique design language through concept, making and resolution.
Textile Design is a broad discipline with ever-growing opportunities. At Norwich, we celebrate traditional and digital making processes including knit, print, weave and embellishment for broad contexts and applications including fashion, interiors, transport, galleries and beyond. You’ll be unconstrained by specialism throughout the course and will explore design thinking across textiles processes, from original concepts to ambitious outcomes.
As part of a supportive course community, students you will be supported to identify your personal and professional interests while developing creative, technical and industry skills. Establishing concepts, drawing and image making, pattern design, material sampling, draping and product design as well as collection development and final presentation / display will be key components of your project work.
Developing your own unique design language is encouraged throughout the course through concept development, making, and design resolution, embracing art, craft and digital media practices. Natural and synthetic colour, hard and soft materials and physical & digital contexts will be explored, with access to our excellent workshops.
You’ll design and make solutions for environments, bodies, and artefacts to drive change in how we all think about identity, inclusivity, wellbeing and textile consumption across this international industry.
Your commercial and industry understanding will be developed through live briefs, competitions, lectures and workshops with textile and fashion industry partners such as Habitat, Liberty, Ricamour, Colorifix, John Lewis, Next, Dulux and Norfolk Museums Service. International competitions and external-facing briefs will enable you to design for different contexts, ensuring you are industry-ready by the time you graduate, with a distinctive portfolio and a strong professional creative identity.
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Why study with us
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Delve into the infinite possibilities of textile design, through drawing, image and colour, and material research to inform pattern and design direction.
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Work in our spacious riverside studio spaces and workshops with access to print, knit, weave and embroidery equipment and a top-of-the-range digital creative suite.
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Explore advanced applications of digital and CAD tools for design and manufacture.
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Take part in practical workshops and industry-standard design challenges to develop skills in various textile processes such as print, knit, weave and stitch, as well as dyeing, fabric manipulation, surface embellishment and digital software.
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Engage with industry agendas of sustainable practice and responsible design while addressing commercial and client needs of this multi-million pound global industry.
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Explore the physical properties of materials and processes of making, embracing traditional craft and digital production methods to create design solutions that shape and redefine our industry.
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Allow your curiosity and passion to explore and research themes and concepts of future facing design debates and historical narratives.
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Course Details
Integrated Foundation Year (optional)
Integrated Foundation Year
Our Integrated Foundation Year is designed to equip students with the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive in their chosen degree subject. The course provides a comprehensive introduction to various disciplines, blending critical thinking and creative problem-solving with practical hands-on experience. This year serves as a bridge to undergraduate studies, allowing students to explore their interests within a supportive and inspiring environment, while familiarising themselves with the campus, workshops, and tutors.
Year 1
Core Units
Creative Learning (40 credits)
This unit provides you with a dynamic exploration of the fundamentals of textile design, such as concept, drawing, materials, colour, and pattern and composition, through an exciting range of projects and workshops. You’ll develop your creative design ideas while gathering visual information to explore concepts through experimental and observational drawing, photography, and related research to inspire your work. Colour-related workshops include colour theory, the development of colour palettes, surface and dye processes, and screen printing. Ideas will be translated during material workshops in fabric manipulation and surface embellishment. Through lectures and seminars, you’ll examine contemporary designers from a range of perspectives, exploring the relationship between fashion, textiles, interiors, sustainability and wider visual culture.
40 credits
Explore and Experiment (80 credits)
This unit provides you with deeper engagement with textiles processes including knit, weave, print and embellishment, alongside further development of your personal visual and conceptual interests. Using an iterative approach, you’ll explore pattern and composition building, material and form, and customers / contexts. You will investigate diverse roles in the global textile industry and consider how your skills can be developed and applied to a range of opportunities. The practical content is underpinned by theoretical content to contextualise current practice within a historical framework. You will consider origins and influences and how traditions develop and evolve in response to social, sustainable and political contexts.
80 credits
Core Projects
Wayfinding Week
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
Make it Manifest(o)
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange Week
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Year 2
Core Units
Global Contexts (80 credits)
This unit will enable you to expand your specialist textiles knowledge and skills in both traditional techniques and innovative practices, building your portfolio for industry engagement. The year is characterised by communication, collaboration and professional practice, by working on industry-facing design briefs, with work completed for an external client, partner, competition or exhibition. You’ll be encouraged to take creative risks, work with a range of processes, and take part in advanced workshops in applications of digital tools for design, manufacture, and communication. You’ll research and explore relevant contemporary global concepts and strategies to underpin your understanding of contemporary issues in the creative industries. You’ll develop an understanding of the need to conduct market research and develop a greater awareness of using trend information as part of your design process, designing for products and collections across materials and applications. Personal professional planning is supported through workshops and set tasks to prepare you for industry engagement.
80 credits
Collaboration (40 credits)
This unit will introduce you to the different ways collaborative working can help you focus and enhance your creative strengths, working with fellow students and our creative communities. This unit will build upon your communication skills, focusing on problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, listening, negotiation, and reflection, as you work towards a common set of project goals, enhancing your employability, presentation, and communication skills. This unit encourages you to explore your practice as a responsible textile designer. You’ll be thinking about creating new work, materials, products or services that factor in environmental, social, economic and cultural costs. Through our career and employability sessions, you’ll begin to define your place as a designer in a global context and potential directions for your work, helping inform your future career aspirations. You will identify and explore theoretical research interests to shape your progression into the final year of study.
40 credits
Core Projects
Wayfinding Week
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
Make it Manifest(o)
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange Week
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Diploma Year (optional)
Level 5 Diploma (120 credits)
Students have the opportunity to spend a year after the second of their degree (or the third year if studying for a degree with an Integrated Foundation Year) enhancing their employability options through a Level 5 Diploma. They can choose from courses designed to provide:
- opportunities to gain industry insight, developing employability skills through a series of supported experiences, expanding professional networks and building confidence in the workplace, or
- an introduction to creative computing, building an understanding of how coding skills can be used to advance and complement creative practice.
Final Year
Core Units
Research and Preparation (40 credits)
This is the first and shorter of the two units that make up your final year of study. Your final year allows you to refine your existing creative practice, develop your skills, and reflect upon your experience, with opportunities to engage with live projects, competitions, and professional bodies, to broaden your portfolio and strategically enhance career directions. The unit encourages innovation through an experimental, process-driven approach to technical and material development, using advanced production techniques in knit, weave, print, stitch, both traditional and digital. You’ll develop an individual research project that advances your knowledge of contextual issues, cultural theories and practices. Group and individual tutorials will provide stimulating and supportive sessions to help you develop your research ideas and those of others.
40 credits
Resolution and Career Development (80 credits)
This unit will allow you to deliver a final major design project, embracing the entire design process, and demonstrating your approach to, and engagement with, contemporary textile design practices and industry partners. Emphasis is placed on students’ abilities to evaluate, make informed choices for selecting methods and processes, and create innovative outcomes. Your work will become increasingly self-directed in relation to personal ambitions, and you will consolidate your knowledge and understanding to develop an independent creative voice preparing you for entry into professional practice or engagement in further research. We celebrate the end of the year with our Textile Design Industry Awards event, with past judges from John Lewis, Art Angels Publishing, and Dulux. You’ll have the opportunity to display your final year project as part of our degree show, Grad Fest, which allows you to showcase your work to our network of industry professionals and prospective employers.
80 credits
Core Projects
Wayfinding Week
The first week of each academic year is called Wayfinding week. It’s an opportunity get your bearings, establish new connections and, after your first year at Norwich, re-establish old ones. Your course team will talk you through the year ahead and explain the expectations for the year. We’ll help you navigate new encounters and identify areas to focus on as you progress through your course.
Make it Manifest(o)
An important element of Wayfinding Week is taking part in our annual ‘Make it Manifest(o)’ project. Your course team will introduce the project in which we’ll ask you to consider your hopes and vision of the year ahead at Norwich and work with students in other year groups to bring your ideas to life. The project culminates in a celebratory display of work across the campus. The project will help you to develop your critical creativity through different approaches, concepts, and mediums. You’ll encounter diverse perspectives and build friendships and networks within our university community.
Interchange Week
Interchange weeks are opportunities to step away from your disciplinary studies and engage in projects, workshops, visits and talks that extend your knowledge and understanding of the world. Whether you learn a new skill or take part in a global challenge project with students from other courses, you will come away with new insights to take back to your course. Interchange is part of the schedule for all Norwich students with sessions held across and beyond the campus led by university staff, visiting lecturers and students.
Download course specifications
Textile Design BA Hons 3 Year Degree Course Specification – (291kb)
Download PDFTextile Design BA Hons 3 Year Degree Course Specification
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Textile Design BA Hons 4 Year Degree Course Specification – (319kb)
Download PDFTextile Design BA Hons 4 Year Degree Course Specification
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Learning and teaching
This course is taught through a mixture of learning and teaching methods including:
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Group briefings
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Academic tutorials
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Group tutorials
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Workshops
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Critiques (crits)
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Seminars
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Lectures
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Assessment
Assessment for this course is entirely coursework-based, meaning there are no exams. Your progress will be evaluated through the projects and assignments you complete for each unit. Throughout the year, you’ll receive ongoing feedback to help you refine your work and develop your skills. To support your learning and ensure you achieve the course outcomes, we use a variety of assessment methods, including:
- Finished pieces of work
- Presentations
- Written work
- Your research
- A reflective journal
Some of the people you’ll be working with
Our Facilities
Look around our city-centre campus, and you will find studios, media labs, and creative spaces in 13 buildings that sit among the cafés, bars, independent galleries and shops of Norwich’s cultural quarter.
Typical career paths
Transferable skills are developed throughout the course, embedded within the learning experience to build your confidence and personal professional identity. Strong communication skills, negotiation, team-working and time-management are highly desirable employability skills which we help you to hone. Throughout the course you will be supported in learning about industry roles and professional attributes to support your career development.
In your final year, you’ll develop a strategy for your future direction and showcase your skills and attributes through your portfolio. Past students have achieved industry recognition and success in competitions including the international awards hosted by the Society of Dyers and Colourists, i-Dott wallpaper awards, Bradford Textile Society Awards and The Batsford Prize. Graduates have secured diverse roles in textile-related positions and beyond, including manufacturing companies such as Ivo Prints, Whitchurch Silk Mill and Standfast & Barracks and design studios including Next Home, Hobbs, Abacus Cards, Joules and Bay & Brown. Many establish their own businesses, including Kalopsia Collective, Rachel Parker and Amelia Ellwood.
- Textile designer
- Designer maker
- Knitwear designer
- Surface pattern designer
- Product designer
- Buyer
- Stylist
- Illustrator
- Wallcoverings designer
- Visual merchandiser
- Materials researcher
- Interior designer
- Researcher
- Public artist
- Stationery designer
- Branding executive
- Conservator
- Graphic designer
- Installation designer
- Trend forecaster
- Event designer
- Art therapist
- Archivist
- knitwear designer
- Teacher
- Weave designer
“92% of our graduates are in employment or further education within six months of graduating”
Graduate Outcomes 2021
Entry requirements
Home
Norwich University of the Arts welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds.
If the qualification that you are studying is not shown, do not worry as we are able to accept other pre-entry qualifications as well as combinations of different qualifications.
Please do contact our Student Recruitment Team if you have any queries.
A/AS Levels (GCE)
GCE A/AS Levels 3 A-level qualifications at grades BCC (104 UCAS Tariff points) or above. Where candidates are not taking 3 A-levels, Norwich University of the Arts will consider combinations of A-level/AS-level and other Level 3 qualifications.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction, Merit, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction*, Distinction* in an art, design or media related subject
T Levels
A T Level in any subject with overall grade A* to C (Pass)
UAL Extended Diploma
Merit
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Access to Higher Education Diploma (Art and Design)
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 26 points
Integrated foundation year (optional)
Norwich University of the Arts welcomes applicants of all ages from all backgrounds.
If the qualification that you are studying is not shown, do not worry as we are able to accept other pre-entry qualifications as well as combinations of different qualifications.
Please do contact our Student Recruitment Team if you have any queries.
A/AS Levels (GCE)
GCE A/AS Levels 2 A-level qualifications at grades CC (64 UCAS Tariff points) or above.
BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Merit, Merit, Pass in an art, design or media related subject
BTEC Diploma (QCF or RQF)
Distinction*, Merit in an art, design or media related subject
T Levels
Pass (D or E on the core)
UAL Extended Diploma
Pass
UAL Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
UAL Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design
Pass
International Baccalaureate Diploma
A minimum of 26 points
Overseas
We accept qualifications from all over the world.
To find our entry requirements from a specific country, please check our dedicated international pages.
English language qualifications
Most international students are required to hold an English language qualification. Applicants are required to have a minimum UKVI approved IELTS exam score of 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each section. Equivalent English language qualifications are acceptable such as, IB English language syllabus A or B/English Literature (Grade 4).
We also accept some alternative English qualifications. Learn more about our English entry requirements.
You can email us on international@norwichuni.ac.uk if you’d like to discuss your application individually.
Fees and funding
Home
Tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year
- Undergraduate course (three year): £9,790 per year
- Integrated Foundation Year (optional): £9,790 per year
- Level 5 Diploma Year (optional): £9,790 year
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you’re classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Fees for subsequent years
Tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with inflation, subject to government regulations. The inflation rate used is expected to be the Retail Price Index excluding mortgage payments (RPIX). We would confirm this in advance to you of each academic year.
Find our more about fees and funding
Funding your study
Depending on your circumstances, you may qualify for a bursary, scholarship or loan to help fund your study and enhance your learning experience.
International
Tuition fees for the 2026/27 academic year
- Undergraduate course (three year): £18,860
- Integrated Foundation Year (optional): £18,860
- level 5 Diploma year (optional): £18,860
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you’re classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
Fees for subsequent years
For Overseas students starting in 2026 inflation will be applied to your fees in later years. We will confirm this in advance to you of each academic year, and we will limit the increase to no more than the Office for Students’ recommended inflationary measure.
Find our more about fees and funding
Funding your study
Please take a look at our International students page for information about fees, scholarships for international students, visas and much more.
Additional costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies, and include loads of benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert employability team, access to workshops and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses. There are also other costs which you may need to consider.
Textile Design BA Course Costs – (153kb)
Download PDFTextile Design BA Course Costs
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How to apply
Home
All applications for undergraduate courses will need to be made via the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS).
You’ll need our university UCAS code (N39) as well as your course code which you’ll find on your course page.
When you register with UCAS you will need include your previous and current qualifications information, personal statement, and reference.
Once we receive your application form through UCAS, we will email confirmation that we have received it and will give you access and instructions for logging into the applicant portal. Our decision will be communicated via UCAS.
Applying for an undergraduate degreeInternational
Full-time Undergraduate International applicants can either apply via UCAS or directly by completing the online application form below or emailing the downloadable form to ioadmissions@norwichuni.ac.uk
Online Application Form (opens in a new window)
International Undergraduate Application Form – (214kb)
Download DOCXInternational Undergraduate Application Form
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Apply via UCAS
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For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our international pages.
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Charlotte Standen
Textile Design BA (Hons)
1 / 1Bee Hale
Textile Design BA (Hons)
1 / 1Brandon Tan
Textile Design BA (Hons)
1 / 1Charlotte Walker
Textile Design BA (Hons)
1 / 2Elodie Reid-Williams
Textile Design BA (Hons)
1 / 1Jess White
Textile Design BA (Hons)
1 / 1Kiera Morel
Textile Design BA (Hons)
1 / 1Ria Drake
Textile Design BA (Hons)
1 / 1Rosie Marden
Textile Design BA (Hons)
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“During my time on this course, live industry briefs with brands such as John Lewis and Liberty have really helped me gain an understanding of the industry before I have even stepped into the workplace, and allowed me to make connections I wouldn’t have otherwise”
Lily-Rose Woodhouse
BA (Hons) Textile Design
Latest news
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BA Textile Design •In conversation with: Marianne Shillingford, Creative Director of Dulux UK and Ireland
We caught up with Marianne, Dulux’s Creative Director, to discuss her work with Norwich's Textile Design students and her advice for breaking into the industry. -
BA Textile Design •In conversation with: Lucy Perry, MA Textile Design
Lucy shares her experience of creating a 360° digital installation, in a collaborative exploration of nature and technology. -
BA Animation •Celebrating award-winning student work at our Undergrad Festival – and beyond
This summer saw the launch of the University’s new Sustainability Awards, alongside nominations for Norwich students for a range of high-profile industry awards. -
BA Textile Design •Embracing AI in Textile Design: A journey of creativity and collaboration
BA (Hons) Textile Design student, Megan Merhar, shares her journey of incorporating AI into her creative process. -
BA Illustration •Norwich students honoured at New Designers
Congratulations to BA (Hons) Textile Design and BA (Hons) Illustration students -
BA Textile Design •In conversation with: Molly De Smith, BA (Hons) Textile Design
Molly De Smith discusses what it’s like studying BA (Hons) Textile Design at Norwich. -
BA Textile Design •Student success at the annual BA (Hons) Textile Design Industry Awards
Student success at the annual BA (Hons) Textile Design Industry Awards -
BA Textile Design •Academics and students work with designers to develop a teaching methodology for AI
Academics and students work with designers to develop a teaching methodology for AI -
BA Textile Design •Crafting collections for Habitat: a BA Textile Design live brief
Challenged by Habitat designers, Textile Design students responded to one of two briefs. -
BA Acting •Take a look back at Norwich University of the Arts Graduation 2023
Explore photos and memories from our two-day graduation celebrations in this photo blog. -
BA Textile Design •Success for students at the annual BA (Hons) Textile Design Industry Awards
BA (Hons) Textile Design Industry Awards -
Alumni •In conversation with alumni Evie Thomas
Evie talks to us about how she got her design in Sainsbury's stores and her career since graduating. -
BA Fine Art •Three students shortlisted for The Batsford Prize 2023
Students from Textile Design, Fine Art and Illustration have been shortlisted for the award. -
BA Textile Design •Hollie Cooper wins second prize in the Bradford Textile Society Design Competition 2022
Hollie won the prize for her textile project focusing on breast cancer. -
BA Textile Design •How it started vs. How it's going: Emma's BA Textile Design scarf project
Explore our series looking at the development of student work from start to finish.
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norwichuni_textiledesign
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norwichuni_textiledesign Jess is an award-winning Textile designer with a passion for print pattern and colour, with observational drawing and hand screen printing being at the heart of her practice. Treasure the Thoughts Jess’s collection, explores memories and transforms them into visually inspiring and emotive designs. The print and surface collection awakens nostalgia of 1970s/ 80s homes, capturing the warmth and familiarity of retro objects to evoke memories of the spaces we once called home. Hand screen-printed textiles celebrate the mix and match of emotional connections, with narratives explored in fine detailed drawing and striking colour for fashion and interiors. Jess has been awarded: Finalist for Zandra Rhodes Fashion Textiles Award 2026, Graduate Fashion Foundation 2026 Winner of the Context Resolution Award presented by John Lewis, 2026 at the Textile Design Industry Awards, Norwich University of the Arts Highly Commended in the Colour in Design Award presented by Marianne Shillingford – Creative Director of Dulux at the Textile Design Industry Awards, Norwich University of the Arts 2026 Winner of the Image and Pattern Award presented by Art Angels Publishing Ltd, at the Textile Design Industry Awards, Norwich University of the Arts 2026 Winner of the Capturing Narratives Prize, awarded by Ricamour Embroideries, Norwich University of the Arts, 2026 Winner of the Costume and Textile Association Helen Hoyte Award, Norwich University of the Arts 2025 Highly Commended in the Angela Houston Award for Textiles, Norwich University of the Arts 2024 Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp @norwichuni.ac.uk @jessparker.textiles @newdesigners @ricamourembroideries @graduatefashionfoundation (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign Lola Powell is a textile designer specialising in woven design. She creates immersive environments that explore the relationship between body, material and landscape through constructed woven pieces inspired by natural rhythms: where movement, ritual and growth shape the outcome. Working intuitively with natural fibres, she materialises the energy of the environment into expressive tactile textiles that encourage sensory engagement, grounding and interaction with the natural world. Living Fibres is a woven collection, designed to respond to touch, light and movement. It began as an exploration of the connection between body and landscape through slow tactile practices, including fibre extraction, foraging and plant-based dyeing. The project developed into a technical construction of these materials through digital weaving and hand finishing. The work evolved into sculptural forms that express the rhythms of nature. Activated on the body and within outdoor environments, this collection invites interaction with the land into expressive, versatile fabrics, shaped by festival and community-focused contexts. This collection exists between installation, wearable textiles and spatial design, particularly in festival and outdoor contexts, to encourage touch, play and reconnection with the land. Lola has been awarded: Finalist in the Constructed Textile Award Graduate Fashion Foundation, 2026 Winner of the Material & Fabric Award presented by Design House Norwich at the Textile Design Industry Awards, Norwich University of the Arts 2026 Winner, Professional Pitch Award at the Textile Design Industry Awards, Norwich University of the Arts 2026 Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp @norwichuni @lolajpdesign @newdesigners @graduatefashionfoundation (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign As a designer and creative Charlotte has taken an interest in print and surface pattern throughout her time at Norwich University of the Arts, developing her personal design language. Charlotte is drawn to creating textural surfaces with tactile and layered designs for a more sensory experience. Disperse Charlotte’s graduate collection explores flow, fluidity and growth in this printed collection offering a variation of textures that reflect the landscapes and bodies of waters that inspired these designs. The prints show a range of different perspectives of dispersion, the way water parts to let nature grow alongside it, the way water scattered natural objects and the movement of water itself. Charlotte has been awarded: Highly Commended in the Context Resolution Award presented by John Lewis, 2026 at the Textile Design Industry Awards, Norwich University of the Arts Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp @norwichuni @char.textilesdesign @newdesigners (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign Nella is a final year textile design student at Norwich University of the Arts. Growing up in the Northeast of Scotland, her work is heavily inspired by the nature she was immersed in as a child, finding wonder and beauty in the world around her. Having a largely unique up bringing, Nella channels stories from personal life into art, hoping to connect with viewers through narrative driven textile-based work. Nella’s interests lie in experimental sampling, studying process and materiality, with an overall consideration on how these can inform the artwork. Nella’s graduate collection, Cocoon: Preservation and Protection, explores the correlation between art and mental health, analysing how access to creative outlets may facilitate wellbeing. Using cocoons, woodlands and forms found in nature, this project centres materiality through narrative driven pieces, focusing on tactility with the hopes of connecting with viewers through storytelling and touch. Nella has created mixed media samples, exploring materiality, tactility and touch in relation to the concept analysing how accessible creative outlets may have an impact wellbeing. Working as sustainably as possible, all fibres and materials used are natural and second-hand, primarily consisting of wool and silk. Additionally, other than those Nella has created herself, any embellishment objects such as beads have also been second-hand. While exploring colour, Nella has made sure to use natural processes, learning how to achieve beautiful shades with plants. Nella has been awarded: Winner of the Ricamour Prize, presented by the directors of Ricamour Embroideries, India and Norwich University of the Arts, 2026 Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp Model: Pippa Bloom @norwichuni @nellaupton_ @newdesigners (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign Samantha is a hardworking and enthusiastic textile designer, focusing her practice within Embellishment and Print design. Samantha has been a proud Student Representative and has enjoyed being a voice for her class for the full three years of university, as well as representing the course at a larger scale as a Student Ambassador during Open Days and Application Days. Healing Arcadia, Samantha’s graduate collection, aims to raise awareness of the lack of care and abandonment in her hometown of Lowestoft by collecting and utilising waste beach materials. This has been done by manipulating them through hand-stitching, dyeing, and heat to create a wearable fashion piece, exploring the connection between Samantha and the materials, as well as Lowestoft. The collection explores the role of material thinking in design for a fashion context. Samantha has been awarded: Highly Commended in the Research Narrative award, awarded by Ruth Battersby from the Norwich Castle study Centre and Hannah Henderson from the Norfolk Museum service at the Textile Design Industry Awards, Norwich University of the Arts 2026 Winner of the Studentship prize, awarded by the Norwich University of the Arts, Textile Design Class of 2026 Highly Commended in the Costume and Textile Association Helen Hoyte Award, Norwich University of the Arts 2025 Highly Commended in the Angela Houston Award for Textiles, Norwich University of the Arts 2024 Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp @norwichuni @samanthacarter._design @newdesigners @ricamourembroideries (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign Nayana Wadhwa is a multidisciplinary textile designer and weaver working across printmaking, beading, illustration, and experimental surface processes. Her practice combines bold colour, tactile materials and expressive motifs to create energetic visual worlds. Interested in both fashion and gallery immersive contexts Nayana explores textiles as playful, sensory and emotionally charged experiences. Internal coding Nayana’s graduate collection explores colour, energy and emotional movement through textiles, print and weaving. Using repeated motifs, layered structures and playful visual systems, Nayana creates work that shifts between clarity and chaos. Inspired by signage, animals, and immersive experience, the work investigates how feelings and movement can exist through material, texture and visual language. Nayana has been awarded: Highly Commended in the Ricamour prize, awarded by Ricamour Embroideries, Norwich University of the Arts, 2026 Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp @norwichuni @nayanawadhwastudio @newdesigners @ricamourembroideries (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign Daisy is an aspiring textile repair specialist with a passion for restoring the connection we have to our clothing. Re-crafting Connections Daisy’s graduate collection showcases bespoke, visibly mended and up-cycled garments that restore the connection between clothing and people through repair. Each repair is curated, reflecting her client’s aesthetics using handcrafted processes; darning, Sashiko, print, patching, and appliqué. Daisy prioritises sustainability, obtaining garments and materials through donations, fabric bins, and charity shops. Daisy has been awarded: Winner of the Research Narrative award, presented by Ruth Battersby from the Norwich Castle study Centre and Hannah Henderson from the Norfolk Museum service at the Textile Design Industry Awards, Norwich University of the Arts 2026 Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp @norwichuni @daisy.dot.design @newdesigners (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign Let’s meet this year’s class of 2026! Alice is an enthusiastic textile designer with a passion for surface print. Her work explores her interest in heritage and history, imbedding historical inspirations with personal connection. Having a strong foundation in textile techniques, colour theory, and pattern creation, Alice’s practice centres around generating and iterating through drawing, and both traditional hand printing techniques and digital methods. ‘The Lure of the Underground’ is an energetic interiors print collection, visually communicating the nostalgia of London Transport. This project translates the excitement and vibrancy of 1920s Transport of London, pulling inspiration from Art Deco transport posters. This collection centres around interpreting journey across rural landscapes into urban surrounding through the view from inside a train. Alice has been awarded: Highly Commended in the Image and Pattern Award presented by Art Angels Publishing Ltd, at the Textile Design Industry Awards, Norwich University of the Arts 2026 Highly Commended in the Ricamour prize, awarded by Ricamour Embroideries, Norwich University of the Arts, 2026 Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp @norwichuni @alicebentley_textiledesign @newdesigners (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign We are excited to be showcasing our Textile Design class of 2026 on campus and online very soon – check out the talent over the coming weeks. Onsite showcase opens this Friday, 12th June! @norwichuniarts (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign It’s brilliant to share news that Lola Powell has been shortlisted for the Constructed Textiles Award at Graduate Fashion Week. Lola is a textile designer specialising in woven design. She creates immersive environments that explore the relationship between body, material and landscape through constructed woven pieces inspired by natural rhythms. Lola’s graduate collection, ‘Living Fibres’ is a woven collection, designed to respond to touch, light and movement. It began as an exploration of the connection between body and landscape through slow tactile practices, including fibre extraction, foraging and plant-based dyeing. The project developed into a technical construction of these materials through digital weaving and hand finishing. The work evolved into sculptural forms that express the rhythms of nature. Activated on the body and within outdoor environments, this collection invites interaction with the land into expressive, versatile fabrics, shaped by festival and community-focused contexts. This collection exists between installation, wearable textiles and spatial design, particularly in festival and outdoor contexts, to encourage touch, play and reconnection with the land. #Foraged #Intuitive #constructedbyhand #Grounded #Storytelling @lolajpdesign @norwichuniarts @graduatefashionfoundation Pic 2: Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign We are excited to see Jess Parker shortlisted for the Zandra Rhodes Fashion Printed Textiles Award at Graduate Fashion Week. Jess is an award-winning Textile designer with a vibrant creative background and passion for print pattern and colour, with strong observational drawing skills and hand screen printing at the heart of her practice. Jess’s collection, ‘Treasure the Thoughts’ explores memories and transforms them into visually inspiring and emotive designs. The print and surface collection awakens nostalgia of 1970s/ 80s homes, capturing the warmth and familiarity of retro objects to evoke memories of the spaces we once called home. Hand screen-printed textiles celebrate the mix and match of emotional connections, with narratives explored in fine detailed drawing and striking colour for fashion and interiors. @jessparker.textiles @norwichuniarts @graduatefashionfoundation Pic 2: Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp Model: Madeline Gorman (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign Great news! Sonia Abul has been shortlisted for the Surface Textiles Award at Graduate Fashion Week. Sonia’s graduate collection is inspired by her growing up in Bangladesh surrounded by pollution and textile waste. The project reflects on healing, survival, and transformation – giving forgotten materials, and forgotten stories, a second life through sustainable design while encouraging more responsible futures within fashion and textile design. Second Skin: Giving waste a Second Life, explores the relationship between biomaterials, sustainability, experimental textile design, and personal storytelling. The project focuses on transforming discarded and organic waste materials into alternative textiles while questioning environmental damage, waste culture, and harmful systems within the fashion industry. Through extensive experimentation and research, the project demonstrates how biomaterials can exist not only as sustainable alternatives, but also as visually engaging and conceptually meaningful textile outcomes. @sonia.labs @norwichuniarts @graduatefashionfoundation Pic 2: Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp Model: Sinead Burrage (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign We are pleased to share news that Sinead has been shortlisted for the GFW Knit Portfolio Award at Graduate Fashion Week. Sinead Burrage is a knitwear designer with a focus on colour and material play. Her work explores slow fashion, developing a deep meaning between the wearer and the garment. Renascence is a knitwear collection exploring the rebirth of materials and memories. It focuses on grief, self-love and how our emotions change over time. The collection is made using deadstock yarn, giving a second life to otherwise disregarded materials. The garments are fully fashioned using domestic, Dubied, and Stoll knitting machines, reducing waste whilst improving the quality of the piece. Sinead is an associate of the Worshipful Company of Framework Knitters, and has been awarded a 2026 bursary training for Shima Seiki. #Nostalgic #Vibrant #Playful #Fully-fashioned knit #Repurposed Pic 2: Photographer: Denisa ILIE Photography assistants: Angel Freeman, Lynda Jimenez Arnez, Rose Majett, Stella Humby, Sophie Charlesworth Retouching: Hannah Gadd and Denisa Ilie Creative Direction: Caroline George, Will Crisp Models: Daisy Robson-Jones & Madeline Gorman @sineadbuurrage @norwichuniarts @graduatefashionfoundation @wcfknitters (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign Today we say goodbye and thank you to Pip Prinsloo who has been working with us for the last year as Lecturer, leading BA2 and teaching across the course, sharing her incredible industry knowledge and passion for all things colour and material! Good luck with the next chapter Pip, we miss you already! We welcome Odette back to our team, ready to take up the BA2 baton again. @norwichuniarts #weareNORWICH (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign Celebrating the end of first year and all we have shared since September! As it came to assessment submission we asked our first year students what they are most proud of and they have given us great responses, swipe to read. The images are of the table top judging for the Angela Houston award that took place on Wednesday. We have received some excellent feedback from our judges: “What a joy and privilege it was to be invited to the Textile Design course today to present the annual Angela Houston Award to the first year students. We were delighted by the excellent standard of work on display which reflected each student’s genuine love of textiles. Their ability to master and develop new techniques with such confidence was impressive. It was inspiring to see such talented designers at the beginnings of their creative journeys and we wish them all the very best for the future. Thank you Caroline for such a warm welcome from yourself and the technical staff. The department is clearly fizzing with enthusiasm and potential!” Judges: Penny Knee and Bob Lattimer- Gregory What a year! Well done everyone 🎉🎉 (opens in a new window)
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norwichuni_textiledesign Yesterday we celebrated our first year group with externally judged awards celebrating their textiles skills, having spent the last three months learning how to design and make in weave, knit and print. Thanks to our judges for the Angela Houston Textile Design award, Penny Knee and Bob who made the difficult decisions and provided excellent feedback. Our winner is Michael, 2nd place Ella and 3rd place Alice. Congratulations! We have three students awarded with Highly Commended awards, Sienna, Nerys and Millie. Brilliant news too! All the students presented brilliantly having prepared portfolio boards, samples, sketchbooks and technical files ready for the assessment hand-in tomorrow. We are so proud of this year group! Brilliant attitude to learning all things textiles, and an absolute pleasure to work with. Good luck with submissions! You’ve got this 🌞 @norwichuniarts Pics: 1,2 Michael 3,4 Ella 5,6 Alice 7 Sienna 8 Nerys 9 Millie (opens in a new window)
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