Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Textile Design major combines creative design practice with technical textile skills, research and experimentation.
• Students explore colour, styling, texture, pattern and surface application, with opportunities to work across print, dye, knit, weave, mixed media and non-woven textiles.
• The programme is designed to move beyond traditional fabric applications into fashion, interiors, industrial products, gallery work and other emerging textile outcomes.
• Massey highlights particular research strengths in adding value to New Zealand wool, innovative uses of textile waste and sustainability.
• Students benefit from links with textile industries in New Zealand and internationally, including collaborations around fibre blends, manufacturing and design innovation.
• The fourth year is strongly research-led and includes a substantial independent design project, giving students an opportunity to develop an individual design practice and portfolio. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The degree is organised progressively over four years.

Year One – fundamental design skills and principles

• 60 credits of studio courses selected from different design/art disciplines
• 30 credits of theory
• 30 credits of electives

The first year develops foundational design thinking, experimentation, creative practice and professional/cultural awareness.

Year Two – major techniques and processes

• 60 credits of major studio
• 30 credits of theory/enterprise
• 30 credits of electives

Year Three – advanced practice and collaboration

• 60 credits of studio
• 30 credits of theory/enterprise
• 30 credits of electives

Year Four – design research and development

• 75 credits of studio
• 15 credits of externally focused study
• 30 credits of electives

The fourth year is research-led and allows students to undertake a substantial independent body of work.

Textile Design major courses include:

Part One

• 223157 Textile Design 1.1: Interwoven Structures – foundational weaving, fibres, yarns, loom equipment and contemporary textile practice.
• 223158 Textile Design 1.2: Intro to Surface Design, Colour and Screen Print – textile print processes, mark-making, colour, composition, drawing and screen printing.

Students choose at least 15 credits from the Part One options.

Part Two

• 223263 Textile Design 2.1: Knitted Textiles – knitted textiles, co-creation, knitted samples and dye techniques.
• 223264 Textile Design 2.2: Print, Colouration and Pattern – sustainable and commercial screen printing, colouration, repeat structures and surface design.
• 223265 Textile Design 2.3: Woven Textiles – fibre and yarn properties and creation of woven textiles.
• 223266 Textile Design 2.4: Digital Textile Print and Application – digital print, digital embroidery, advanced repeat systems, industry trends and collection building.

Prerequisites apply to some of these courses.

Part Three

• 223358 Textile Design 3.3: Studio Collections – development of a textile collection for a defined audience.
• 223367 Textile Design 3.1: Advanced Textile Structures – advanced digital and analogue textile technologies, warp design, material testing, knitting and weaving.
• 223368 Textile Design 3.2: Advanced Textile Print and Visualisation – large-format printing, colouration, repeat structures and digital visualisation.

Part Four

Students choose 30 credits from:

• 197753 Design Research Development
• 223453 Textile Design Research and Development

Disciplines / Specialisations

The selected specialisation is:

• Textile Design

Within Textile Design, students can develop practice in areas such as:

• weaving
• knitting
• dye
• screen printing
• digital textile printing
• digital embroidery
• colour and surface design
• pattern
• mixed media
• non-woven textiles
• material innovation
• sustainable textile practice

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 8 honours-level undergraduate qualification.
• Four-year, 480-credit programme.
• Research-led fourth year.
• Hands-on studio, workshop and media-lab learning.
• Strong emphasis on material experimentation and innovation.
• Textile research strengths include New Zealand wool, textile waste and sustainability.
• Industry connections in New Zealand and internationally.
• Opportunities to explore cross-disciplinary design areas through electives.
• Live briefs and external-client engagement can form part of the fourth-year experience.
• The fourth year can provide a pathway towards further postgraduate design study.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies career directions including:

• textile designer
• designer of apparel fabrics
• furnishing and interior textile designer
• wall-covering designer
• art and design for film and theatre
• colour and lifestyle trend consultant
• styling
• marketing and merchandising
• creative entrepreneurship and self-employment
• further education and teaching-related pathways

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current programme is open to international students on the Wellington campus.
• The qualification itself has no additional admission requirement such as a compulsory portfolio or interview; applicants must meet Massey's general university entrance requirements.
• A Creative Review is encouraged after application/enrolment but is not stated as a formal entry requirement.
• Textile Design courses have specific prerequisites and restrictions, so course sequencing needs to be planned carefully.
• The programme is highly practical and studio-based; students should expect to participate in textile-making, workshops and related specialist activities.
• The qualification provides an honours/research-focused fourth year, and students decide towards the end of Year Three whether to continue with the honours route or move to the non-honours Bachelor of Design pathway.

International Student Visa Requirements

Because Textile Design is an on-campus qualification in Wellington, an international student coming to New Zealand to study normally needs an appropriate New Zealand student visa.

The relevant Immigration New Zealand route is the Fee Paying Student Visa. Current requirements include:

• an offer of place from an approved education provider
• evidence that you can pay your tuition fees or have an appropriate scholarship
• sufficient funds for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor
• acceptable medical/travel insurance
• meeting health and character requirements
• genuine intention to study
• evidence relating to onward/return travel where required
• compliance with attendance and satisfactory academic progress requirements.