Textiles 2: Contemporary Practice

I needed a course to fit around my life and OCA provides just that

Level:: 2 (HE5)
Credits:: 60
Length:: 15 months approx.
10hrs per week
Cost:: £745
payment options

Course Overview

Core Requirement for BA Hons Textiles
Elective Option for BA Hons Creative Arts*

This innovative new course is all about using contemporary techniques and developing individual approaches based on in-depth visual research of environmental issues, new materials and processes and potential markets. The course is project based and contextual studies, history and cultural understanding are embedded into the projects (including research on historical and contemporary textiles as well as investigations into new materials and processes.) There are no instructions for specific textile techniques but references to technical information are provided. At this stage it is expected that students will wish to continue to develop their own choice of skills and projects are designed to allow for that development to take place.

Students are introduced to digital technology for textiles design at a basic level and encouraged to explore this as a potential tool and as a further means to developing creative ideas. Students will explore the potential of manipulating imagery using scanning techniques and encouraged to use software such as Photoshop.

Students are guided through the process of developing a finished piece, through research, drawing and sampling, making prototypes and applying finishing processes where appropriate. At each stage students evaluate their work.

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Ecological issues and sustainability in textiles, including a practical project using recycled materials to create a design-based product or a conceptual art piece.
The use and properties of new materials.
Using basic digital technology as a creative tool: manipulating imagery using scanning techniques and photoshop.
Museum study as a historical, contextual and visual resource for textile design.
Identifying potential markets and display locations for textile work.

The learning outcomes of this course are:

Select and evaluate a range of textile media and techniques to develop innovative solutions to set projects and self-generated projects.
Research visual ideas from a wide range of sources and critique and develop these ideas. Demonstrate a critical awareness of environmental concerns, new materials and market forces and understand the diversity of textiles both in practice and in historical and cultural contexts.
Participate in the direction and design of their own learning experience.
Critically review the environmental context of the work of a contemporary textile artist.

21 projects and six assignments. Students also maintain a learning log.