The 21st century marks the beginning of a new textile revolution - one we believe is smart, invisible, sustainable, ethical and poetic.

The MA Textile Futures ethos is to approach textile design as a form of industrial design but with a focus on the language and codes inherent to textiles. By exploring key contextual questions to interrogate, critique and propose new design concepts, we invite our designers to engage fully with the challenges of designing for the 21st century. How do we reconcile ecology and smart technology? With current progress in nanotechnologies, how do we engineer invisible functions with new aesthetics? How can biomimicry principles inform the design of resilient textiles? Will scientists become designers? With digital fabrications becoming mainstream, what future for craft? How can textiles lead to the development of smart interactive interface? Can textiles inform a new way to imagine architecture? These are examples of questions MA Textile Futures will consider over the two year postgraduate programme.

Smart textiles, invisible performance, sustainable and ethical issues as much as poetics and aesthetics call for new design perspectives. Crossover with other design disciplines as well as with science and socio-economics are more pertinent than ever. Rapid changes in culture, economics and technology need dynamic designers who can propose and realise intelligent, responsible innovations with strategic thought, leadership and personal vision. The MA Textile Futures course aims at equipping designers with critical skills to design for our future selves and provides a 'think-tank' in which to cultivate ideas, reflect on individual practice, and challenge the boundaries of textile design.

MA Textile Futures lasts 60 weeks structured as two consecutive periods of 30 weeks each (i.e. two academic years) in its 'extended full-time mode'.

MA Textile Futures is credit rated at 180 credits, and comprises 2 units. Unit 1 (60 credits) lasts 20 weeks. Unit 2 (120 credits) runs for 10 weeks in the first year and 30 weeks in the second year.

Both units must be passed in order to achieve the MA, but the classification of the award of MA derives from your mark for Unit 2 only.

You are expected to attend approximately 30 hours of study per week. Attendance is timetabled across three days each week, when taught sessions and self directed study takes place in addition to study outside the college.
Year 1: Wednesday to Friday
Year 2: Monday to Wednesday

Unit 1 - Design Challenge

This unit introduces you to key issues that will affect the short, medium and long-term future of designing for the textile and creative industry. A set of design challenges will be engineered to encourage you to develop your own creative agenda in response to and in anticipation of future scenarios. You will be exposed to new materials, processes, technologies and design methodologies and will use textiles as a platform to critically interrogate our sustainable future. These projects might include work with or on smart textiles, new materials, interactive design, sustainable textiles, trend forecasting, branding, fashion, and craft futures.

You'll be expected to develop experimental design work alongside innovative design proposals and be able to discuss and critically debate issues related to your practice. A shared programme with MA Industrial Design and MA Design: Ceramics, Furniture or Jewellery will enable you to work in multidisciplinary teams and to critically interrogate the complexity of the global and local context of design.

Unit 2 - Design Futures

This unit is all about developing and realising your personal design project, which has to be located within a chosen 'future'. During this period of mostly self-directed study you'll produce a body of comprehensive research and develop appropriate methodologies. The research element of your personal design project informs the creative process and is reflected in the Masters thesis, which is a critical evaluation of your design project. You're encouraged to take risks in the production of a body of experimental work before realising the final design work. Besides being original and innovative, what you produce will advance the discipline of textile design.

Note: The design briefs in unit 1 and beginning of unit 2 are different every year and may include industrial and research collaborations. As a result of these live collaborations, some of our external projects may start in unit 1 and be completed in unit 2.

Employment

MA Textile Futures has established various links with industry in London and beyond, allowing students to work on international design projects and initiatives. MA Textile Futures itself has contributed much to debate around design, both through the media and by organising and delivering papers at international conferences.

MA Textile Futures students are expected to establish their own network of contacts and develop collaborations within industry as part of the development of their Masters project. Employers have included Adidas, Distance Lab, Banff New Media, Castelbajac, Donna Karan, Etam, Hussein Chayalan, Line Consultants, Louis Vuitton, Margiela, Media Lab Europe, Nicole Farhi, Speedo, Ted Baker, Design Lab, Trend Union and Nissan Design Europe.

Entrepreneurship

Many MA Textile Futures designers have started their own businesses including Linda Florence, Rachel Kelly, Elena Corchero and Jenny White and have won special awards and grants from the Crafts Council, the Nesta Pioneer programme and Texprint. Group initiatives such as 'Puff & Flock' and 'Is This Textiles?' have been recent high-profile successes.

Academic and Research

Some MA Textile Futures graduates prefer to develop an academic career and pursue PhD level research or teach in various institutions around the world, including the University of the Arts London, De Monfort University, and Queen Mary University (UK), Universidad de los Andes Bogota (Columbia), and Kaywon School of Art &Design (Korea)

Press Coverage

MA Textile Futures graduates regularly gain press coverage in UK magazines such as Surface, Viewpoint, Frame Creative Review, Elle Decoration, Crafts and Selvedge. Also in the International press including features in Interni (Italy), Vogue Casa (Italy) and FORM (Germany).
Exhibitions.

Exhibitions

MA Textile Futures graduates' work is included in international exhibitions around the world, including the Milan Furniture Fair and London Design Festival. Students have also been involved in major design exhibitions at key institutions such as the V&A, London and the Crafts Council.

Awards

MA Textile Futures alumni are often featured in international awards including recent awards for Elisa Strozyk, who won the 2009 Young Designer's Prize from the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology, Elena Corchero, winner of the 2009 Blueprint 'Best Use of Materials' award at 100% Design London, Linda Florence winner of the British Design Awards 2009 for Surface Design and Elaine NG, winner of a Europrix Multimedia Award, 2010.

Industry links

MA Textile Futures has established various links with industry allowing students to work on international design projects and initiatives. The course itself has contributed much to debate around design, both through the media and by organising and delivering papers at international conferences.

Students are expected to establish their own network of contacts and develop collaborations within industry as part of the development of their Masters project. In recent years students have benefited from collaboration with companies such as Louis Vuitton, Nissan Europe, Stella McCartney, Samsonite, Graham & Brown, EDF Energy, Microsoft Research and Philips Design.

MA Textile Futures entry requirements are: relevant Honours degree; evidence of experiential learning equivalent to a degree; or 3 years relevant professional experience.

English language requirement

All classes are conducted in English. If English is not your first language, we strongly recommend you send us an English language test score together with your application to prove your level of proficiency. If you have booked a test or are awaiting your results, please clearly indicate this on your application form. When you have received your test score, please send it to us immediately. The standard English language requirement for entry is IELTS 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in any one paper, or equivalent. For further information visit the English Language requirements page

 
Applicants who will need a Tier 4 General Student Visa should check the Visa and Immigration page which provides important information about UK Border Agency (UKBA) requirements. 

What we look for

We're seeking imaginative, resourceful textile designers who have the potential to shift existing design boundaries, re-shape how we live, and create the textiles of tomorrow.

MA Textile Futures suits both recent graduates seeking to develop their skills and expand their market awareness, and experienced designers wishing to challenge their careers. Primarily aimed at textile designers, it also attracts applicants from related design disciplines.

Students with a background in design, fine art, architecture, interactive design or product design are welcome to apply, provided they can demonstrate that their aspirations are compatible with the course rationale and the textile discipline.

MA Textile Futures is demanding and challenging and will benefit most those who are prepared to question their contribution to the design discipline and who aim at becoming leading designers/consultants. Once on the MA course you'll be expected to demonstrate creative design skills, develop strategic design thinking, be independent, flexible, and prepared to respond to challenge with a mature and professional attitude.

Student selection criteria

We are looking for people who are driven and passionate about design and who keep informed about issues that affect the textile and creative industries and how they locate themselves within the global context of design. When preparing for your interview and/or writing your statement, make sure you state clearly the reasons for applying to MA Textile Futures as opposed to another MA programme.

You should also provide your own vision of textile futures; ie think about what will influence the way we design textiles in the future.

The interview and personal statement should evidence:

• The ability to discuss your portfolio, through verbal or written means, demonstrating a critical perspective of your work
• A clear understanding of your design context and an engagement with issues that affect your industry.
• The ability to have an informed conversation about your role as a designer
• Motivation, commitment and understanding of the ethos of the MA Textile Futures course.

Portfolio advice

The design portfolio should consist of several design projects and include design development and sketchbook work. The portfolio should evidence the following:

• Strong design and technical skills
• A personal approach to developing a design concept (including research, design development and final outputs)
• A knowledge and understanding of materials
• A creative approach to visual communication and presentation.

Home/EU and International applicants

Download your MA Textile Futures application form:

• MA Textile Futures application form - international [Word, 0.5mb]
• MA Textile Futures reference form - international [Word, 0.3mb]
• MA Textile Futures application form - home/EU [Word, 0.5mb]  
• MA Textile Futures reference form - home/EU [Word, 0.3mb]

Each form contains detailed information about the application process.

Your application must include:

• A completed application form
• Copies of your latest qualifications certificates
• A personal statement
• Two references at least one should be an academic or professional reference
• *International applicants should include a portfolio of work with their application. (See details below)

Personal Statement

Your personal statement should answer the following questions (please note suggested word count for each question is 100 words).

• Biography (What experience would you propose to bring to the MA course personally?
• Why have you chosen to apply for MA Textile Futures rather than another Masters course?
• What do you understand ‘textile futures’ to mean?
• Tell us about the most exciting innovation you have come across in the field of textiles recently.
• Describe something you believe will have an impact on the future of design. (This could be something social, economic, environmental or a breakthrough in science, for example).

*International applicants portfolio

Please submit your portfolio as a non returnable A4 portfolio, or CD / USB memory stick (images should be arranged in a single PDF or Powerpoint file). The presentation should contain between 20 pages minimum and 50 pages maximum and should demonstrate your process and research as well as final outcomes.

Further information for International applicants

Our website includes all the information you need to successfully apply. However, if you still have unanswered questions about the admissions process, please contact us. Email: international@csm.arts.ac.uk

The University has a dedicated team to help prepare you for your studies. For help on visa requirements, housing, tuition fees and language requirements visit the University's International section.

The Language Centre offers international students quality language training from qualified and experienced teachers. The Pre-sessional Academic English Programme is available to all international (non-EU) students who have been offered a place on a full time course at the University of the Arts. For further information visit the Language Centre website.

We also offer a number of short courses that enable students to improve their portfolios and English skills before applying to their chosen course. For further information visit our Short Course section.

Please ensure your application is complete. If you’re sending references separately, please state this clearly. We recommend you send your application by recorded mail. Due to the large number of applications we get, we cannot send confirmation that your application has been received.

Home/EU applicants please send your completed application to: Student Administration, MA Textile Futures, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA.

International applicants please send your completed application to: International Office, MA Textile Futures, Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, Granary Building, 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA.

When to apply

Applications can be submitted throughout the year. Places are limited, however, so we advise you to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment. 

Home/EU applicants who wish to apply for the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) bursary should apply to the college before 1 March.

Deferred entry

Entry can only be deferred in exceptional circumstances. Please contact us before submitting your application if you're considering applying for deferred entry.

What happens next?

We read and consider all application forms and personal references. Please note we give particular attention to your study statement and references.

Subject to your meeting the entry requirements and consideration of your application form, preliminary selection is based on your study statement and documentation of work and supporting information. You may then be invited to attend an interview. For candidates applying for external funding, interviews will be scheduled prior to funding body deadlines.

Can't attend the interview?

If you're a home/EU or international applicant unable to attend for interview, the MA Textile Futures Course Leader would hope to discuss your application by telephone.

In the case of applicants unable to attend for interview and unable to discuss their application by telephone, a decision regarding the offer of a place on the course will be made on the basis of a review of the application materials. We keep notes about decisions made following the initial application review and the interview process.

Selection is by two members of staff (normally the Course Leader and one other), and offers of places are made on the basis of our selection criteria. Applicants are informed of the decision via either the School Office or the International Office.

Open days

Open days are a great opportunity to meet staff and students and to find out at first hand about courses, teaching and student life. Visit the open day section for dates and to book your session. Bookings can only be made online, not by phone or email.