Textile Designer
What the work is
Creates and develops patterns, prints, textures and illustrations for the production of different kinds of cloth, material and fabric for garments and soft furnishings.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Researches and prepares textile design concepts based on current trends, client needs and artistic insights
- Develops colour palettes that resonate with fabric design themes, and creates original patterns, prints, textures and illustrations for various types of cloth and fabric
- Chooses the appropriate fabric and yarn types based on specific designs
- Provides detailed specifications for production, such as yarn counts and weave structures, to ensure consistent output
- Creates prototype designs or samples using manual and digital techniques
- Tests and evaluates textile designs for quality, durability and functionality
- Collaborates with clients, design teams, manufacturers and suppliers to understand design requirements and specifications
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a small design studio developing clothing, accessories and fabrics for an Australian label. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A sketch becomes a sample on a fitting model and the shape is exactly what you pictured
- You see someone out in the street wearing something you designed
- A fabric you chose behaves beautifully and the whole range comes together
Hard days
- A sample arrives from the maker looking nothing like your drawing
- A deadline for the season's range is fixed while the fabrics are still late
- A design you love gets pulled because it costs too much to make
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 242234, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.