What do Laura Ashley, Raoul Dufy, and William Morris have in common? They are textile designers that changed how we look at and decorate our homes and offices.
It’s big business, too. Textiles are considered a part of the fashion industry, which is worth over $1.5 trillion. The influence you can have as a textile designer can add joy and fun to the home.
You can make a name for yourself and be an influencer in your own right. Does that sound appealing to you? You should get a good understanding of what textile design is.
Read on to learn about the textile design process and how you can be a great textile designer.
What Is Textile Design?
Textile design is the art and science of working with woven fabrics. Designers take materials like cotton, polyester, or denim and turn them into products. Designers like this textile designer create products that range from throw pillows to rugs.
You might wonder how textile design differs from fashion design. They’re related because they both have to understand how different types of fabric materials work together.
Textile designers create the raw fabrics that fashion designers turn into finished products.
Textile Design Basics
How do textile designers go about their work? Designers have a process they use to create your favorite fabrics. Most of the time, they’ll start behind a computer and design with CAD software.
CAD lets the designer try different patterns and make adjustments without the high costs of manufacturing test patterns.
The textile designer chooses a specific fabric and creates the pattern. They’ll use pattern repeats and decide how many times the pattern repeats on a bolt of fabric. This will depend on the application of the fabric.
A small item like a pillow will have small patterns that repeat often, while larger items like couches or rugs will have single patterns or few repeats.
The designer also specifies the color of the fabric in the CAD software. Once the design is finalized, it gets sent to the production department for manufacturing.
How to Become a Textile Designer
There isn’t a right or wrong way to become a textile designer. You need to have an interest in textiles and design. You can choose to go to school in textile design, interior design, or graphic design.
Since your work is done using computers, you should become very familiar with different types of software like CAD, InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.
You should start building your network and reach out to others in the textiles industry to learn about the path they took to become a textile designer.
Textile Design Impacts Your Life
Whether you realize it or not, textile design has a significant impact on your personal style. The colors and feel of the fabrics you choose to decorate your home are designed by a textile designer.
If you want to become a textile designer, you should start with the basics. Understand the different types and processes of textile design. You should go to school to learn the science behind the fabrics and basic design principles.
Do you want more design fun? Head on over to the Lifestyle section for more great tips.
