Textiles guidance


New BA (Hons) Textiles units:

  1. Textiles 1.1 Introducing Textile Practice (TX4ITP)
  2. Textiles 1.2 Investigating Textile Materials and Methods (TX4ITM)
  3. Textiles 1.3 Textile Ideas and Contexts (TX4TIC)
  4. Textiles 2.1 Contemporary Textile Crafts (TX5CTC)
  5. Textiles 2.2 Future Focused Textile Practice (TX5FFT)
  6. Textiles 2.3 Communication Through Textiles (TX5CTT)
  7. Textiles 3.1 Practice and Research (TX6PAR)
  8. Textiles 3.2 External Projects (TX6EXP)
  9. Textiles 3.3 Major Project (TX6MPT)

Teach Out BA (Hons) Textiles units:

  1. Textiles 1: A Textiles Vocabulary (TX4ATV)
  2. Textiles 1: Mixed Media for Textiles (TX4MMT)
  3. Textiles 1: Ideas and Processes (TX4IAP)
  4. Textiles 2: Contemporary Context (TX5CCX)
  5. Textiles 2: Contemporary Practice (TX5CTP)
  6. Textiles 3: Personal Specialism (TX6PER)
  7. Textiles 3: Research (TX6RES)
  8. Textiles 3: Sustaining Your Practice (TX6SYP)
Assessment requirements
When considering the learning outcomes for your course unit, it is important to know what you are being asked to submit. These are known as your assessment requirements. In summary, these will include:
  1. A selection of entries from your learning log. These should evidence the connections between your coursework and the learning outcomes. Select between 2 to 3 learning log entries for each learning outcome. 
  2. A selection of creative work. This should be a portfolio or other presentation of your final or strongest pieces. Select between 10 to 12 pieces of creative work.  
  3. Any written elements such as critical reviews. This should include any required essay, review or report elements.
  4. A reflective presentation or evaluation. This will be an opportunity to reflect on your learning experiences as a whole. It can take the form of a presentation, short video, or a written piece, and should be no longer than 6 minutes or 750 words.

Additional advice for Textiles students 

Selecting your Learning Log entries

You will identify suitable work to support your learning outcomes. For example the Textiles 1: A Textiles Vocabulary LO2 is; Illustrate the ability to explore the use of colour from different sources and using a range of media. This Learning Outcome links nicely with Part 3 of the course so aim to select a range of examples from this part as evidence. You may also feel that other sections of the course demonstrate your use of colour, in particular your yarn development and Part 5 where you build a final collection. You have some flexibility, so choose work you feel particularly demonstrates your ability to explore, colour, for example. 

We also suggest you make your selections with the Assessment Criteria in mind. You will find that one Learning Outcome will hit one or more of the Assessment Criteria. Continuing with the colour example, you will be looking to select work that demonstrates your technical and visual skills, demonstrates aspects of quality of outcome, aspects of, demonstration of creativity with a learning log entry that demonstrates your reflective skills. 

Documenting your physical textiles work

There are two facets to consider when documenting and recording your work for assessment submission. First of these is the visual aspects of your work using photography and/or film. The second is recording aspects not apparent in film and photography, and these will require you to describe the work using text and/or audio recording.  

To start this process we suggest you watch this short film Discussing and sharing the qualities of your work on WeAreOCA. The Programme Leader for Textiles, Rebecca Fairley, talks through the five key qualities you will want to share with the assessor. These are:

  • Materials and techniques
  • Visual qualities
  • Physical qualities
  • Scale
  • Feelings 

This can be done by either photographing the work with supporting text or making a short film like this or a combination of both. If you are submitting photographs ensure the text is with the image. Most, if not all of you, will have taken many photographs of your work as you have progressed through the course, so you may not need to take fresh ones for assessment. 

If you work with physical learning logs, sketchbooks, notebooks, or other preparatory work, then you will need to think about how you capture this digitally with the resources available to you. For example, by scanning, photographing, or videoing. The camera on your phone will be fine.

Try to keep your images steady by bracing yourself or using a tripod or ‘gorilla grip’ style flexible mount (for camera or phone), if available. You won’t need professional lighting but make sure you have a few sources of ordinary lighting, or ideally use daylight. It is a good idea to check your images, and retake if necessary. Remember that you are recording a selection, so you do not need to photograph everything.