Textiles (Taught)

The MA Textiles at the RCA operates at the creative interface between materials, making and meaning. Practice-led research is at the heart of the programme: you ‘think through making’ by experimenting with materials and processes in both physical and digital domains. The community brings together commercial designers, craft practitioners, gallery-based makers and smart textiles innovators. Through individual initiatives, collaborative work, and interdisciplinary projects, you develop a unique creative identity. With a focus on radical experimentation, material exploration and transformation, the programme embraces a non-linear, conceptual approach, and values accidental and incidental discovery. You critically engage with all aspects of the discipline and work with responsibility and ethical values.

About RCA:

The Royal College of Art is the world’s leading postgraduate art and design university, providing students with unrivalled opportunities to develop their practice, build their networks, enhance their career and to deliver art and design projects that transform the world.

For 12 consecutive years, the RCA has been ranked as the world’s number 1 art & design university in the QS World University subject rankings (2015-2026) - attracting artists, designers and communicators from across the globe.

Course Modules

Term 1
In term 1, you take Textiles Alchemy, which lets you build foundational skills through research, experimentation, and exploration of colour, materials, and processes. You are encouraged to assess which techniques best support your emerging project and critically reflect on your material choices.

Term 2
In term 2, you take Textiles Make, where you deepen your making practice through lectures, workshops, technical inductions and independent study. You develop specialist skills and techniques and engage with debates in textiles covering topics like sustainability, future materials, identity, and manufacturing.

Also in term 2, you take Grand Challenge, a school-wide unit that asks you to work on a “wicked” design problem in a cross-disciplinary way, often with external partners.

Term 3
In term 3, you take Independent Research Project, defining and delivering your own body of work. This culminates in a public event (Textiles Festival) where you present and reflect on your MA-level practice.

AcrossRCA
During the first two terms, you participate in the AcrossRCA college-wide unit, collaborating with students from other programmes on a self-initiated themed project that addresses cultural, social, environmental or economic issues.

Core Skills

The Core Skills unit supports the development of academic and professional skills for your personal projects and beyond in your professional practice and career. It focuses on key skills for your discipline through three themes: Making Meaning (focusing on critical thinking and research), Making Together (focusing on collaboration and inclusive practice), and Making Public (focusing on communication, engagement and leadership).

Please refer to the programme webpage for the most accurate and up-to-date information about the programme, its structure, modules and any updates or changes.

https://www.rca.ac.uk/study/programme-finder/textiles-ma/