Degree Showcases: A Study of Textile-Design Education at the Undergraduate Level in the United Kingdom

<p dir="ltr">This doctoral research poster presents an ongoing study of undergraduate textile-design education in the United Kingdom, using Loughborough University’s degree showcases as a key case study. The project examines how past conditions in the textile industry, the availability of materials, and dominant design movements shape contemporary trends in student work. Drawing on grounded theory, the study analyses degree showcase collections from 1999 to 2024 through sorting, categorising, clustering, and contextual mapping, complemented by semi-structured interviews with former heads of school, past students, and current lecturers and technicians. The research aims to build a nuanced understanding of how educational reforms, industrial art traditions, and emerging technologies influence curriculum, student preparedness, and the evolving value system of textile-design education. Findings are intended to inform future programme development at Loughborough and offer a transferable blueprint for other national and international institutions.</p><p dir="ltr">© the author</p>