Pre-U Textile Design OCR

This subject is broken down into 16 topics in 4 modules:

  1. Core Principles 6 topics
  2. Disciplinary Approaches - Constructed Textiles 3 topics
  3. Disciplinary Approaches - Printed Textiles 3 topics
  4. Disciplinary Approaches - Fashion and Accessory Design 4 topics
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  • 4
    modules
  • 16
    topics
  • 5,691
    words of revision content
  • 44+
    minutes of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Textile Design

Core Principles

Design and creative process

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Design and creative process

Design and Creative Process

Understanding the design brief

  • Begin by thoroughly evaluating the design brief.
  • Identify what the final product will be, who it is for and what it will be used for.
  • Define the requirements and constraints that will shape your design process.

Research and inspiration

  • Conduct research into similar products currently on the market.
  • Use mood boards to gather visual inspirations such as colours, patterns, and textiles.
  • Historical, cultural and contemporary styles can all be sources of inspiration.

Concept development

  • Generate as many ideas as possible through brainstorming sessions.
  • Develop sketches of your initial design ideas.
  • Evaluate and refine your concepts based on the design brief and feedback from others.

Design development

  • Select your strongest concept and create more detailed design drawings.
  • Experiment with different textiles, patterns, colours, and techniques.
  • Create samples to test out your design and make any necessary amendments.

Production planning

  • Develop a step-by-step action plan to turn your design into a reality.
  • This should include time frames, resources needed and any potential obstacles.
  • Consider the sustainability of your design and how you can minimise its environmental impact.

Prototype and evaluation

  • Construct a prototype of your product.
  • Evaluate the prototype against the design brief and make any necessary improvements.
  • Reflect on the design process and the final outcome so you can learn for future projects.

Presentation of final design

  • Document your design process and final product in a portfolio.
  • Use clear and attractive visuals to highlight key features.
  • Clearly explain how your design meets the needs of the brief and justify your design choices.

Course material for Textile Design, module Core Principles, topic Design and creative process

Textile Design

Disciplinary Approaches - Constructed Textiles

Bonded or Non-woven textiles (felting, papermaking, heat, or adhesive bonding)

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Bonded or Non-woven textiles (felting, papermaking, heat, or adhesive bonding)

Bonded or Non-woven Textiles

  • Bonded or non-woven textiles are formed from fibres, yarns, or fabrics that are bonded together through physical or chemical processes.
  • These textiles do not require a weaving process and thus are quicker and easier to produce compared to knit or woven fabrics.

Felting

  • Felting is one of the most primitive forms of creating textiles, where fibres are matted together through heat, moisture, and pressure into one solid mass.
  • Wool is the most common material used in felting due to the scales on wool fibres aiding in interlocking the fibres together.
  • Wet felting involves hot water, soap, and agitation to interlock the fibres, while needle felting uses barbed needles poked into the fibres to tangle them together.

Papermaking

  • In textile terms, papermaking involves the production of sustainable textiles from cellulose plant fibres.
  • Japanese Washi is a popular example of such a textile, made from the fibres of mulberry tree bark, bamboo, hemp, or rice.
  • Sheets are formed by draining a suspended fibre mixture on a screen, before drying and peeling off to produce a textile.

Heat Bonding

  • In heat bonding, heat either melts synthetic fibres or a thermoplastic adhesive is used to fuse the textile layers together.
  • The process can be split into two main types: through-air bonding and infrared bonding. These methods use hot air or infrared radiation to heat the air between the textile layers, respectively.
  • Heat bonding is common in creating products like interlinings, geotextiles, and disposable hygiene products.

Adhesive Bonding

  • Adhesive bonding employs liquid or web adhesives to bond textile layers together.
  • This method is popular in the production of laminated fabrics and composite materials.
  • With web adhesives, a low-melt web is sandwiched between fabric layers and heated to melt and bond the layers, while liquid adhesives involve coating one or both fabric surfaces before applying pressure and heat for bonding.

Characteristics of Bonded or Non-woven Textiles

  • Bonded or non-woven textiles are generally more lightweight and air permeable yet provide good insulation.
  • Depending on manufacturing process and materials used, they can be Highly absorbent, elastic, resistant to tearing, and possess good dimensional stability.
  • However, unlike woven or knitted fabrics, they might lack strength and durability.
  • Sustainability factors also play a big role. For instance, paper textiles are more eco-friendly but less durable, while synthetic non-wovens can be more hard-wearing but less sustainable.

Course material for Textile Design, module Disciplinary Approaches - Constructed Textiles, topic Bonded or Non-woven textiles (felting, papermaking, heat, or adhesive bonding)

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