Fashion and Textile Design (BS): Textile Design Concentration
You may not have heard of textile design before, but you鈥檝e certainly seen it, from the color and knit of your favorite cozy blanket to the prints that made brands like Marimekko, Lilly Pulitzer and Anna Sui famous. Textile designers make all the choices that decide the look, feel and performance of memorable and functional fabrics and trims.
听is one of two concentrations open to students majoring in fashion and textile design. You鈥檒l start out in a first-year studio learning the fundamentals of design before becoming more focused on your textile design experience in our state-of-the art labs and studios. Your college career culminates with a debut collection that you鈥檒l exhibit in a public showcase.
Contact
For answers to questions about the admissions process, please contact:
Heather M. Lyerly
Senior Director of Academic Services
Wilson College of Textiles
919.515.1177
hemurphy@ncsu.edu
Meggie Metcalf
Associate Director of Academic Services
Wilson College of Textiles
919.515.0596
meggie_metcalf@ncsu.edu
Plan Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Orientation | ||
| T听101 | Strategies for Success in the Wilson College of Textiles | 1 |
| Mathematics and Sciences | ||
| MA听131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 |
| or听MA听141 | Calculus I | |
| MA听231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3 |
| or听MA听241 | Calculus II | |
| CH听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| CH听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| PY听211 | College Physics I | 4 |
| or听PY听205 | Physics for Engineers and Scientists I | |
| TMS听211 | Introduction to Fiber Science | 3 |
| Major Requirements | ||
| TT听105 | Introduction to Textile Technology | 3 |
| TTM听106 | Yarn Formation, Classification and Numbering Systems | 1 |
| FTM听217 | The Textile Industry | 3 |
| FTD听200 | Design Skills Workshop 1 | 3 |
| TT听252 | Formation and Structure of Textile Fabrics 1 | 4 |
| FTD听201 | Computer-Aided Textile Design and Color Studio 1 | 6 |
| FTM听282 | Marketing and Brand Management Fundamentals in Textiles and Apparel | 3 |
| PCC听302 | Technology of Textile Wet Processing | 4 |
| FTM听310 | Entrepreneurship & New Product Development in Textiles | 3 |
| ADN听281 | Drawing I | 3 |
| D听100 | Design Inquiry I: Methods and Processes | 3 |
| D听101 | Design Inquiry II: Methods and Processes | 3 |
| FTD听104 | Fashion and Textile Design First Year Studio I | 6 |
| FTD听105 | Fashion and Textile Design First Year Studio II | 6 |
| Concentration Requirements | ||
| FTD听373 | Yarn Design Studio 1 | 3 |
| FTD听374 | Surface Design and Texture | 3 |
| FTD听375 | Woven Textile Design Studio I 1 | 3 |
| FTD听376 | Knitted Textile Design Studio I 1 | 3 |
| FTD听475 | Woven Textile Design Studio II | 3 |
| FTD听476 | Knitted Textile Design Studio II | 3 |
| FTD听479 | Senior Textile Design Studio | 6 |
| 18FTDFAS Advised Electives | ||
| FTD Advised Elective | 6 | |
| GEP Courses | ||
| Acad Writing Research 2 | 4 | |
| GEP Humanities | 6 | |
| GEP Social Sciences | 6 | |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 2 | |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| GEP Global Knowledge (verify requirement) | ||
| GEP Foundations of American Democracy (verify requirement) | ||
| World Language Proficiency (verify requirement) | ||
| Total Hours | 120 | |
- 1
C or better
FTD Advised Elective
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| FTM听220 | Principles of Retailing and Supply Chain Management in Textiles | 3 |
| FTM听310 | Entrepreneurship & New Product Development in Textiles | 3 |
| FTM听315 | Fashion Product Design | 3 |
| FTM听317 | Computer Aided Fashion Design | 3 |
| FTM听318 | Fashion Development Processes | 3 |
| FTM听320 | Retail Merchandising in Fashion and Textiles | 3 |
| FTM听380 | Management and Control of Textile and Apparel Systems | 3 |
| FTM听382 | Brand Management in Textiles and Apparel | 3 |
| FTM听384 | Visual Merchandising Principles and Management | 3 |
| FTM听385 | Fashion and the Consumer | 3 |
| FTM听387 | Textile Brand Communications & Promotions | 3 |
| FTM听400 | Major Fashion Designers | 3 |
| FTM听415 | Fashion Product Development | 3 |
| FTM听416 | The Fashion Industry | 3 |
| FTM听420 | Retail Buying in Fashion and Textiles | 3 |
| FTM听431 | Quality Management and Control In Textile Manufacturing | 3 |
| FTM听460 | Textile Market Research | 3 |
| FTM听480 | Operations Management Decisions for Textiles | 3 |
| FTM听481 | Product Costing in the Textile and Apparel Industry | 3 |
| FTM听482 | Global Brand Management in Textiles and Apparel | 3 |
| FTM听483 | Global Trade & Sourcing | 3 |
| FTM听484 | Strategic Planning and Decision Making in the Textile and Fashion Industries | 3 |
| FTM听485 | Textile Computer Integrated Enterprise | 3 |
| FTM听486 | Supply Chain Management in the Textile Industry | 3 |
| FTM听487 | Human Resource Management and Leadership in the Textile and Fashion Industries | 3 |
| FTM听490 | Development Projects in Textile and Apparel Management | 1-3 |
| FTM听491 | Special Topics in Textile and Apparel Management | 1-4 |
| FTM听494 | International Industrial Internship in Textile Management | 3 |
| FTM听497 | Senior Fashion Collection Studio | 6 |
| FTM听499 | Textile Senior Project | 4 |
| PCC听201 | Impact of Industry on the Environment and Society | 3 |
| TT听341 | Knitted Fabric Technology | 3 |
| TT听380 | Management and Control of Textile and Apparel Systems | 3 |
| TT听431 | Quality Management and Control In Textile Manufacturing | 3 |
| TT听451 | Advanced Woven Fabric Design | 3 |
| TT听480 | Operations Management Decisions for Textiles | 3 |
| TT听485 | Textile Computer Integrated Enterprise | 3 |
| TT听486 | Supply Chain Management in the Textile Industry | 3 |
| TT听499 | Textile Senior Project | 4 |
| TT听551 | Advanced Woven Fabric Design | 3 |
Acad Writing Research
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Acad Writing Research | ||
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| WLEN听101 | Academic Writing and Research | 4 |
| Transfer Sequence | ||
| ENG听202 | Disciplinary Perspectives in Writing | 3 |
| ENG听1GEP | 3 | |
Semester Sequence
This is a sample.
Critical Path Courses:听Identify using the code (CP) which courses are considered critical path courses which represent specific major requirements that are predictive of student success in a given program/plan. Place the (CP) next to the credit hours for the course.听
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| ENG听101 | Academic Writing and Research 1 | 4 |
| TT听105 | Introduction to Textile Technology | 3 |
| D听100 | Design Inquiry I: Methods and Processes | 3 |
| FTD听104 | Fashion and Textile Design First Year Studio I (CP) | 6 |
| T听101 | Strategies for Success in the Wilson College of Textiles | 1 |
| 听 | Hours | 17 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| D听101 | Design Inquiry II: Methods and Processes | 3 |
| FTD听200 | Design Skills Workshop 2 | 3 |
| MA听131 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences A | 3 |
| FTD听105 | Fashion and Textile Design First Year Studio II (CP) | 6 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FTD听201 | Computer-Aided Textile Design and Color Studio (CP) 2 | 6 |
| FTM听217 | The Textile Industry | 3 |
| PY听211 | College Physics I | 4 |
| TTM听106 | Yarn Formation, Classification and Numbering Systems | 1 |
| ADN听281 | Drawing I | 3 |
| 听 | Hours | 17 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| TMS听211 | Introduction to Fiber Science | 3 |
| TT听252 | Formation and Structure of Textile Fabrics (CP) 2 | 4 |
| FTD听373 | Yarn Design Studio (CP) 2 | 3 |
| FTD听374 | Surface Design and Texture (CP) | 3 |
| MA听231 | Calculus for Life and Management Sciences B | 3 |
| GEP Health and Exercise Studies | 1 | |
| 听 | Hours | 17 |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FTM听310 | Entrepreneurship & New Product Development in Textiles | 3 |
| FTD听375 | Woven Textile Design Studio I (CP) 2 | 3 |
| FTD听376 | Knitted Textile Design Studio I (CP) 2 | 3 |
| CH听101 | Chemistry - A Molecular Science | 3 |
| CH听102 | General Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 16 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| FTD Advised Elective | 3 | |
| FTM听282 | Marketing and Brand Management Fundamentals in Textiles and Apparel | 3 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| FTD Advised Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 12 |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| FTD听475 | Woven Textile Design Studio II | 3 |
| FTD听476 | Knitted Textile Design Studio II | 3 |
| PCC听302 | Technology of Textile Wet Processing | 4 |
| GEP Elective | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 13 |
| Spring Semester | ||
| FTD听479 | Senior Textile Design Studio | 6 |
| GEP Social Sciences | 3 | |
| GEP Humanities | 3 | |
| 听 | Hours | 12 |
| 听 | Total Hours | 120 |
- 1
C- or better
- 2
C or better
Career Opportunities
From art galleries to Nordstrom and The North Face to MIT, our textile design graduates are sought out by leading employers in just about every industry. Here are just a few of the places our alumni work.
- Apparel: The North Face, Kohl鈥檚, J. Crew, Nordstrom, Abercrombie & Fitch, St. John Knits听
- Home Textiles: Valdese Weavers, Glen Raven, Mohawk Flooring听
Career Titles
- (Assistant, Associate) Textile Designer:听Develop printed or woven fabric designs that align with the larger creative direction of a brand or line. This includes trend research, mood board development, and yarn and color selection before developing a computer-aided design (CAD) file for review. Associate and lead designers have more say in setting the creative direction than assistant designers.
- Print Designer:听Create surface print designs for fabrics used in apparel, interior design and more, work with the creative team to make sure those designs fit within the company鈥檚 larger brand, and then communicate those designs effectively to overseas vendors.听
- Knit Designer/Knitwear Designer: Develop knit fabric designs 鈥� taking into account yarns, colors, stitches 鈥� for home and apparel uses.听
- Woven Designer:听Use knowledge of yarns, textile processing, woven technology and more to develop woven textile designs for home, apparel and other applications.
- Product Designer/Developer/Manager:听Design products (eg. backpacks, scarfs, pillows, shoes) with a special focus on the textile and raw materials and work with merchandising, production, technical design and more to ensure the product design is executed correctly.听
- Materials Developer:听Develop the custom material and fabric for a product while considering technical performance needs, testing, sustainability and sourcing.听
- Trims Developer:听Design trims (zippers, piping and more) and branding elements (how logos are displayed) for apparel, home and automotive industries.
- Color Specialist:听Conduct consumer research and apply knowledge of color theory, fiber science and color science to build a brand鈥檚 color palettes and make sure those colors are represented correctly in a product.听
- Studio or Lab Manager:听Make sure all machines are operating, oversee purchasing of studio materials and equipment, and ensure students, artists or other employees reach their production goals.听
- Freelance Designer/Entrepreneur
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