Textile Design

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday August 10, 1987

TEXTILE designers translate an idea for a fabric into plans or specifications necessary to produce the fabric on textile machinery by such methods as weaving or knitting.

Personal requirements: These include perfect colour vision, good colour sense, an artistic aptitude and skill at converting ideas to practical use.

Qualifications and training: Education should preferably be to HSC level, while the SC may also be acceptable. Proficiency in English, mathematics and science is required.

TAFE offers a textile certificate (design) course at its School of Textiles, Strathfield. Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education has a three-year BA (visual arts) course with a major specialisation in textiles, and a major study in textiles is available within the institute's two-year associate diploma in creative arts course. Sydney College of the Arts holds a four-year degree program in fashion and textile design.

The University of Wollongong offers a three-year full-time bachelor of creative arts with a specialisation in textiles which includes drawing and design. And there is a two-year associate diploma in the visual arts, with a specialisation in textiles.

Prospects: Sound, for properly trained designers. However, this is a selective occupation and not many people are employed in it. Designers can also work as independent consultants.

Further information: Apply to the institutions above; School of Textiles, 51 Wentworth Avenue, Strathfield, NSW 2135; TAFE Information Centre, Railway Square, Broadway, NSW 2007; Textile Clothing and Footwear Council of Australia Ltd, 7th floor, 99 Queen Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3000; large weaving and knitting mills.