A Study on Curricula for Training of Specialist in Textile Design

Abstract

: This study investigated the current curricula for the training of textile design specialists. In-depth interviews were conducted with 6 practitioners working in the textile design industry; subsequently, the curricula offered by 20 textile design-related departments at 4-year and 2-year colleges in Korea were used for the data analysis. The results of this study were: First, the problems of textile design education were ① a limited understanding of commercial designs, ② an education system concentrated on pattern designs, ③ limited creativity and design expression capacity, ④ limited practical ability and the analysis of collection. Second, most textile design departments at Korean colleges were located in the Seoul/Gyeonggi district and Gyeongbuk/Gyeongnam district. Third, textile material and imagination/expression subjects were a limited part of the curricula; subsequently, a long-term and systematic education system (by college year) was required for the use of basic education subjects. Fourth, there was a shortage of practical subjects in college education despite the perception of commercial designs; in addition, a professional design education (by material and use) were an important part of practical business.