
Manufacturing &
Production

Textile &
Apparel Factory Worker
Textile Mechanic
Textile Technician
Textile Production Worker
- Textile Dyeing
and Finishing Machine Operator
-
Textile & Footwear Production Machine Operator
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Other Textile & Footwear Production Machine Operator
Related Jobs or Working
with these Jobs
    
Textile designers produce ideas and designs for
printed, woven or knitted textiles and many patterned surfaces.
Textile designers work within and alongside industries such as fashion,
automotive, interior design and technical textiles.
They may also work within a studio environment alongside other designers, or
as freelance designers working with a client base.
Textile designers create
two-dimensional designs that can be used, often as a repeat design, in the
production of knit, weave and printed fabrics or textile products.
Working in both industrial and non-industrial locations, they often
specialise,
or work in a specialist context, within the textile industry.
The two major areas of textiles
are:
-
interiors (upholstery, soft
furnishings and carpets);
-
fabrics for clothing (fashion
or specialist, e.g. fire-proof).
Many textile designers are
self-employed, while others work as part of a design team.
ANZSCO ID: 232312
Knowledge, Skills and Attributes

You will need to show:
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creative flair and artistic ability
- enjoy artistic and creative activities
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a good eye for colour, texture, fabrics and
patterns
-
good drawing and visualisation skills
-
design skills and the ability to use
computer-aided design (CAD) packages
-
excellent attention to detail
-
able to understand and use colour
-
interested in pattern and surface
decoration
-
understanding and experience of using different
textile processes and techniques
-
creative and able to translate ideas into
product
-
an interest in fashion and textiles, and an
understanding of trends and materials
-
good communication skills
and teamworking skills
-
good problem-solving skills
-
ability to work to deadlines and a budget
-
marketing, administrative and business skills -
especially if you are self-employed
Duties and Tasks
Textile designers may perform the following tasks:
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accurately interpreting and representing
clients' ideas
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design and produce original woven, knitted or
printed fabrics
-
design fashion fabrics for clothing,
including jackets, shoes, socks, jeans, hats, bags and lingerie
-
design fabrics for homeware items,
including chairs, carpets, bed linen and tableware
-
design surface patterns for laminates,
wallpaper, plastics, tiles, toys and packaging
-
make drawings of initial concepts and work
with various yarns and fabrics
-
making up sets of sample designs
-
working out design formulae for a group of
samples
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producing sketches, designs and samples for
presentation to customers
-
make decisions about colour, structure,
surface pattern, weight and yarn composition, taking into account the
final use of the fabric
-
translate designs into marketable fabrics
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using specialist software and
computer-aided design (CAD) programs to develop a range of designs
-
inspect pre-production for colour and quality,
and approve these or instruct changes to be made
-
produce finished artwork, storyboards and
colourways (colour tone work)
-
prepare the dispatch of design
specifications for production/end use
-
assessing and approving completed items and
production standards
-
liaising with clients and technical,
marketing, production team and buying staff to
plan and develop designs, while working to
deadlines and ensuring that projects are completed on
time
-
research and gather information about the
target market
-
working independently, if self-employed, or
liaising closely with colleagues as part of a small team
-
experimenting with colour, fabric and texture
-
maintaining up-to-date knowledge of new design
and production techniques and textile technology
-
developing new design concepts
-
visiting sites and other sources of ideas for
designs
-
sourcing fabrics and other materials at trade
fairs, markets and antique shops
-
attending trade shows, as a delegate or as an
exhibitor - this may involve representing the company with a display or
stand, or appraising the work of competitors
-
keeping up to date and spotting fashion trends in
fabric design by reading forecasts in trade magazines and using internet
resources
-
developing a network of business contacts
-
if self-employed, managing marketing and public
relations, finances and business administration and maintaining websites
Working conditions
Textile designers work within and alongside
industries such as fashion, automotive, interior design and technical
textiles. They may also work within a studio environment alongside other
designers, or as freelance designers working with a client base.
Working hours typically include extra hours to meet
deadlines. Freelance designers do not have set hours and have to divide
their time between designing and marketing their work.
Work settings differ and may include factories,
backrooms or smart design studios. Freelance artists, craftspeople and
designers may work from home or in workshops.
Long term, self-employment is an option, although
setting up your own business in addition to maintaining design work is
demanding and can take time.
Working alone and to short deadlines can be stressful
and there is constant pressure to produce new ideas and make new contacts by
visiting trade fairs and other events. Using your creative abilities within
a commercial environment requires the ability to cope with criticism if a
particular piece of work is not well received by a client.
Occasional travel within a working day and overnight
absence from home may be required and overseas work or travel is possible.
Education and Training/entrance
requirements
To become a textile designer you would usually need to complete a VET
qualification in Textile Design & Development, or Fashion & Textile Design.
Generally, you would require a senior secondary school certificate or
equivalent. You may be required to present a folio of work with your
application.
You can also become a fashion designer by completing a degree in fashion
design or textile design. To get into these courses you usually need to gain
your senior secondary school certificate or equivalent with English.
Applicants may be required to attend an interview and/or submit a folio of
their work.
A degree in one of the following areas may increase your chances:
-
art and design
-
fashion
-
knitwear
-
surface design
-
textiles
Textile degree courses may have a specialist focus, e.g. constructed
textiles, mixed media or printed textiles. You should check whether your
choice of course is appropriate for the way you wish to work.
Employment Opportunities
Employment of textile designers is projected to
decline.
Many Australian textile and apparel manufacturing companies have moved their
manufacturing offshore, and so there are fewer opportunities available
locally. Some opportunities may still be available in specialist
manufacturers and design firms, or in working closely with fashion designers
in the creation and use of new materials, such as moisture-wicking fabrics.
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