This textile program is unique in providing professionally qualified textile designers for the fashion, interior, automotive and licensing design industries in Australia and overseas. It encourages exploration in design and creativity, as well as developing technical knowledge and digital media skills for translating textile concepts into marketable products. You are able to specialise in surface pattern (print) or constructed textiles (knit and weave) and will undertake a range of projects that will result in a professionally presented folio of work. You will also take part in industry-related projects and develop communication, business and computer-aided design (CAD) skills, which are necessary to meet global industry needs and for successful future employment.

Work Experience

The student will be placed with a supervisor in a textiles, clothing and fashion organisation in the first half of the final year of the program. Work integrated learning (WIL) comprises on-site working experience and insight into the design and business operations of a company. You will have to complete a workplace assignment with an organisation. This is an assessable component of the course 'Textile Business and Careers'. You can be placed with a diverse range of organisations such as Country Road, Dryen, Warwick, Brintons Carpets, Linen House, Hoad Home Fashion, Holden, AutoFab, Nicola Cerini, and Vixen.

Duration

Three years full-time. Most classes are held during the day.

Pathways

Graduates of either the Diploma of Arts (Screen Print Design) or the Diploma of Arts (Studio Textiles and Design) programs who have been successful in gaining a place in this program will be eligible to apply for exemptions.

Note: In TAFE, RMIT University recognises and accepts any Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications and Statements of Attainment that are issued by other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). Credit will therefore be given for modules or units of competency for which an original official certificate or Statement of Attainment is produced.

Gaining credit for previous study or experience
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and credit transfer are ways that RMIT recognises applicants’ skills and knowledge gained through formal and informal education and training, work experience, and/or life experience (including volunteer work; committee responsibilities; family duties, hobbies).

Further information about gaining credit for previous study or experience

Further information about pathways

Career Prospects

Textile designers form an integral part of a design and marketing team to create original design, develop sample fabrics, identify marketing opportunities and advise on product development strategies. Specialist skills are also required to make decisions about colour, structure, surface texture and pattern, weight and yarn, fabric composition and appropriate methods of manufacture.

Fabrics designed by textile designers are used in all aspects of fashion, from streetwear to sportswear, from evening wear to intimate apparel. In homewares and soft furnishings, textile designers create bed linen, table linen, carpets, laminates and decals for ceramics. In the automotive, defence, sportswear and aerospace industries, textile designers are involved in technical textiles, performance testing and smart fabric applications.

This program is the major provider of designers to the Australian textile industry, and the graduate employment rate is high. Textile design is a global industry where Australian companies seek graduates of the program to work locally and internationally. The new generation of textile designers require skills in business and marketing, product design and development, knowledge of the manufacturing supply chain and the use of CAD and digital literacy in design and communication.

Textile Design students develop skills and learning experiences to help them begin their career path in a range of creative textile, fashion, interior and automotive design industries. All final year students complete an industry placement as a component of the course, 'Textile Business and Careers'. Textile Design graduates are provided with a global passport of skills, experience and capabilities that enable international mobility in an industry that is diverse and challenging.

The graduate textile designer uptake rate in the TCF industries is on average 86% per year, with starting salaries ranging from $35,000 – $47,000 per year.

Professional Recognition

Graduates are eligible for membership of the Design Institute of Australia and the Licentiateship of the Textile Institute (LTI - global).

Entrance Requirements

Current Year 12 prerequisite units 3 & 4—English (any).

Non-Year 12 applicants are encouraged to apply and may be required to have relevant employment or evidence of experience and/or ability to meet the demands of the program.

Equity admissions schemes
RMIT understands that people’s backgrounds and circumstances can affect their access to education and training. RMIT’s equity admissions schemes allow applicants to explain the circumstances that have adversely affected their education, and demonstrate their capacity for future academic success.

Further information is available at equity admissions schemes

Click here for further information .

Application Procedures

Semester one

Full-time applicants—VTAC application
Note: All applicants must comply with any extra requirements listed.

VTAC application
Applicants must apply through Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) and are advised to check detailed information on entrance requirements, application procedures and closing dates. Applicants must meet all extra requirements and selection procedures listed through VTAC.

Application closing date: Late September
Further information:
Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC)
40 Park Street, South Melbourne
Tel. 1300 364 133
www.vtac.edu.au
Note: RMIT program codes listed on this page should not be used when applying through VTAC.

Extra requirements

Selection mode all applicants: Folio (70%), interview (30)%.

Selection procedures (Semester 1 2008 VTAC applicants)

Non-Year 12: Applicants must complete and submit a VTAC Pi form.

Interview and folio presentation: Applicants must telephone 03 9925 9116 between 2 pm and 5 pm to book by 30 September (Late applicants by 14 November). Details will be sent to applicants by early November. Applicants must attend in late November/early December.

Semester two (midyear intake)

RMIT University has places available for the midyear intake in many TAFE and degree programs – bachelor and postgraduate. Check from 1 May to see if this program offers a midyear intake
Note: Applicants must confirm availability of program offered at midyear prior to applying. All applicants must comply with any extra requirements listed.

RMIT direct application
Applicants must apply directly to RMIT University using an RMIT direct application form.

Application closing date: 31 May
Further Information:
Info Corner (formerly Office for Prospective Students)
330 Swanston Street, Melbourne
Tel. 03 9925 2260
Email: study@rmit.edu.au
www.rmit.edu.au/programs/enquiries

Click here for further information .

Fees

Degree

Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
A CSP is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government and the student. In 2009, the fees ranged between $4,162 and $8,677 per year for a standard full-time program. The exact cost varies according to each course.

Changes to fee paying undergraduate places in 2009
The Australian Government has announced that it will phase out fee paying domestic undergraduate places from 1 January 2009 in public universities. However, the Government has announced that it will replace fee paying places with up to 11,000 new Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) by 2011. Therefore, expectations are that there will be more HECS (Higher Education Contribution Scheme) places on offer at RMIT University in 2009.

There will be no full-fee places at RMIT University offered through VTAC (Victorian Tertiary Admission Centre) for new domestic students in undergraduate programs in 2009. There are some exceptions to the Government’s prohibition on new full-fee undergraduate places which will affect a very small number of students.

Further information is available at: www.rmit.edu.au/programs/fees/highered

Or you can go to the Federal Government’s Going To Uni web site www.goingtouni.gov.au or phone the hotline: 1800 020 108.

Scholarships

Record spend on RMIT scholarships
RMIT University will spend more than $60 million on student scholarships over the next five years. RMIT has many scholarships and funding opportunities to offer students.

Further information is available at RMIT Scholarships

Click here for further information .

Program Structure

The first year of the program provides a broad introduction to the components of textile design through courses such as Textile Design 1; printed, woven and knitted textile workshops; Textile Industry and Technology and the technical aspects of textile production; Computer Aided Textile Design 1-with the use of Photoshop and Illustrator for design and storyboarding; Textile Studio 1, which includes repeat design, croquis, colour and illustration techniques where you are given projects to develop your visual, colour and mark making skills. Ideas are converted into croquis and repeat designs for a variety of product outcomes. Folio presentation and communication skills are introduced to allow you to articulate and demonstrate your skills and capabilities.

The emphasis in first year is on acquiring the visual, technical and making skills necessary to develop visual concepts through to textile sampling and CATD simulations.

In the second year of the program you are able to specialise in Textile Design 2, surface pattern design (print) or constructed textiles (knit and weave) and will experience designing for a broad range of product applications using specialist print, knit and weave software. In Textile Studio_2, visual research, advanced paint up, trend styling, croquis design and presentation techniques are developed further. Textile Arts and Culture is introduced in this year, which focuses on the historical and social effects of design in our society. Digital print, weave and knit production techniques are demonstrated to you in this second year of the program. Textile specifications are also taught to enable the conversion of sampling and swatching into viable production fabrics. Computer Aided Textile Design 2 is focussed on Illustrator software for the professional development of finished design for production purposes.

External industry projects and awards are promoted in this year together with the opportunity for qualified students to undertake an exchange program with an overseas fashion and textile program. Year two students select one University elective with courses ranging from languages, digital media, fashion illustration and pattern cutting to business and marketing electives, either at Brunswick or City campuses.

The third year of the program comprises Textile Business and Careers (including WIL), Textile Design 3, which is the workshop and fabric making component of the year; Textile Studio 3, which comprises visual research and concept development; Computer Aided Textile Design 3, which develops key capabilities for final year students via industry projects, marketing awareness and preparing folios for interview presentation.

You are given real time projects and awards in this year to create a folio of diverse projects. In 2007 these projects consisted of: Holden automotive interiors for small cars; materials technology applications for future concept fabrics and applications; DIA student design awards; and Dreamweaver and AWI knit, weave and print awards. You also select one University elective to undertake in this year with print and knit electives offered as a minor study option.

Supplementing the core syllabus, visiting lecturers and recent graduates talk to you about all aspects of the textile design industry, ranging from design and production within large scale organisations, to self created employment in nests, hubs and small SME start-up businesses. The program has an average 86% full-time graduate employment rate. You are also encouraged to attend key seminars and exhibitions and to enter international and national design awards.

Final year students have an exhibition of their folio work at the Brunswick campus in mid November. This is an opportunity for prospective applicants to the program and employers from the TCF industries to come and view student work.

The following program structure(s) are linked to this program.

Contact Details

Patrick Snelling, Program Coordinator
School of Fashion and Textiles
25 Dawson Street, Brunswick 3056
Tel. 03 9925 9411
Fax: 03 9925 9246
Email: patrick.snelling@rmit.edu.au

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Staff

Textile design staff at RMIT are employed for their professional knowledge and experience. All staff have art, design, business and technology backgrounds, including publication, exhibition and freelance business interests that complement the teaching and learning profile of the program. Many staff are undertaking postgraduate research projects and are recognised in the industry and design community for their professional expertise.

Owning School

Fashion & Textiles

Disclaimer

Although RMIT endeavours to ensure the accuracy of this information, there is no guarantee it will remain accurate all year. Applicants are advised to confirm program details with the appropriate school before making an application.