Category: Design and Craft

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Design and Craft Garments, Textiles and Materials Development

Print and Textile Design

Print and textile design involves designing and developing fabric patterns, textures, and materials used in clothing, interiors, and accessories. Designers in this field work with both traditional and digital techniques to create printed, woven, and experimental surfaces. They research trends, draw or digitally render designs, and often produce fabric samples using methods like screen printing, dyeing, or embroidery. A strong eye for colour, form, and texture is essential, alongside technical knowledge of materials and production processes.

Some designers specialise in areas such as knitwear, jersey, or digital printing. Working either in-house for brands or independently, textile designers contribute creatively to collections while addressing broader concerns like sustainability, identity, and innovation. Progression can vary in these roles. You could own your own company or brand, or become Head of Textiles, Woven Textile Designer or Head of Print within another brand. These brands’ products can range from interior design to accessories and apparel.

Examples of roles within Print and Textile Design:
  • Surface Pattern Textile Designer
  • Print Technician
  • Junior/Assistant Print Designer
  • Studio Assistant
  • Pattern and Print Maker
  • Print Designer
  • Circular Design Expert
Work by Nikhita Andi on display, with a visitor interacting with the installation, 2021 MA Textile Design, Chelsea College of Arts
London College of Fashion courses relevant to careers in Print and Textile Design:

This list is not exhaustive. It is only an indication of directly connected LCF Courses.

Yifan Yang, 2021 Graduate Diploma Textile Design, Chelsea College of Arts, UAL
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Jewellery and Accessories Design

Jewellery and Accessories Design is a creative and technical field, designing items like handbags, eyewear, jewellery, and hair accessories. Designers work with different materials and production techniques to create pieces that balance function, style, and market appeal. These roles often begin with conceptual sketches and trend research, followed by technical drawings and prototypes. Depending on the project, designers may use traditional craftsmanship or digital tools such as CAD software, while also collaborating closely with manufacturers to ensure quality and consistency.

Careers in this field can be diverse, offering paths in both luxury and commercial markets. Entry-level roles like design assistants can lead to senior design positions, head of department roles, or launching an independent brand. This sector values a strong creative identity, technical skill, and a clear understanding of fashion trends and sustainability. Whether creating bespoke jewellery or mass-market accessories, designers must also develop business awareness, communication skills, and the ability to tell compelling stories through their designs.

examples of roles within Jewellery and Accessories Design:
  • Leather Goods Designer
  • Material and Fabrication Specialist
  • Junior/Assistant Accessories Designer
  • Junior/Assistant Jewellery Designer
  • Technical Accessories Designer
  • Digital Prototyping and CAD Specialist
  • Trend and Innovation Consultant
  • Technical Designer
Mia Vilcins, 2022 BA (Hons) Fashion Jewellery, London College of Fashion, UAL | Photograph: Ben Turner
London College of Fashion courses relevant to careers in Jewellery and Accessories Design:

This list is not exhaustive. It is only an indication of directly connected LCF Courses.

Rana Aydin, 2024 BA (Hons) Design for Creative Direction, London College of Fashion, UAL | Photograph: Ben Turner
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Design and Craft Garments, Textiles and Materials Development Media, Publishing and Digital

Graphic Design and Illustration

Careers in graphic design and illustration develop visual content for branding, marketing, and product design. These roles include creating everything from clothing prints and textile patterns to promotional materials like swing tags, catalogues, websites, and social media content. Designers and illustrators may work by hand or use digital tools such as Adobe Creative Suite to bring concepts to life.

The two areas are closely connected but also have individual identities. Graphic design in fashion focuses on creating visual assets like branding, packaging, and textile prints, while illustration is more about visually interpreting and expressing fashion ideas through hand-drawn or digital artwork, often used to communicate design concepts. Fashion Illustrators often sketch designs that help communicate ideas to teams or clients, blending creative flair with industry knowledge.

Professionals in this field are expected to stay up to date with fashion trends, have strong creative and technical skills, and collaborate closely with design and marketing teams. An understanding of typography, layout, digital illustration, and trend analysis is key, as is the ability to visually communicate a brand’s identity through design. As you gain experience you could advance to roles like in-house illustrator for a fashion brand or publication or establish your own illustration studio or brand.

Examples of roles within Graphic Design and Illustration:
  • Fashion Illustrator
  • Illustrator
  • Web Designer
  • Print Designer
  • Concept Artist
  • UX/UI Designer
  • Junior/Midweight Graphic Designer
  • Artworker
  • Digital Designer
Ernestine Chua, 2021 BA (Hons) Illustration and Visual Media, London College of Communication, UAL
London College of Fashion courses relevant to careers in Graphic Design and Illustration:

This list is not exhaustive. It is only an indication of directly connected LCF Courses.

Edward Mendoza in the Studio | Photograph: Alys Tomlinson
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Footwear Design

Footwear design is a specialised area within the fashion and creative industries focused on creating stylish, functional shoes for a variety of markets, including gender, age, and lifestyle categories. Footwear designers combine artistic creativity with technical skills to sketch concepts, research trends and materials, and produce digital or handmade prototypes. They must also consider engineering elements like comfort, mobility, fit, and durability, as shoes require greater structural precision than most clothing items. This makes the field both highly creative and technically demanding.

Professionals in this area often collaborate with pattern makers, manufacturers, and branding teams to ensure their designs meet aesthetic goals and performance standards. Career progression may also include opportunities to manage teams or launch a personal brand. A strong foundation in design software, attention to detail, material knowledge, and an understanding of brand storytelling are essential for those interested in building a successful career in footwear design.

Examples of roles within Footwear Design:
  • Junior/Assistant/Senior Designer
  • Design Manager
  • Colour & Material Designer
Day 2, February 2016, LCF, Photographer: Alys Tomlinson, UAL, UAL student recruitment, UAL. LCF
London College of Fashion courses relevant to careers in Footwear Design:

This list is not exhaustive. It is only an indication of directly connected LCF Courses.

Shoes on display in Lime Grove canteen | Ana Blumenkron
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Design and Craft Media, Publishing and Digital

Digital Design

Digital design involves using computer software and 3D modelling to create visual content and experiences across web, social media, and e-commerce platforms. Digital designers are responsible for developing everything from marketing graphics and animations to virtual garments and 3D product simulations. They work with tools like Adobe Creative Suite, CLO 3D, and Blender to bring fashion concepts to life digitally, often supporting brand storytelling, online shopping, and product development.

This field includes roles such as graphic designers, 3D garments designers, User Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) Designers, and Virtual Fashion Creators. Professionals may work on everything from designing virtual fitting rooms and avatars to improving app usability and online store layouts. With the growth of virtual fashion, augmented reality, and e-commerce, digital design offers a dynamic and rapidly evolving career path for creative individuals with strong technical and visual communication skills.

A career in digital design can be explored in-house through a company or through freelancing or starting your own business. Typically, you would begin in ‘Junior Designer’ or ‘Design Support’ work and can progress into a variety of roles depending on your area of digital design. For example, Head of Digital Development, Innovation Manager, Digital Experience Manager or Creative Director.

examples of roles within Digital Design:
  • UX/UI Designer
  • Junior Fashion Designer
  • Web Designer
  • Graphic Designer
  • Content Strategist
  • UX Researcher
  • UX Architect
  • Sustainability Lead
  • CAD Designer
  • E-commerce Designer
  • VR Developer
  • Junior/Midweight Digital/3D Designer
  • Character Modeller
  • Visualiser
Alexis Obue working on her tablet, 2024 BSc Creative Computing, UAL Creative Computing Institute | Photograph: Alys Tomlinson
London College of Fashion courses relevant to careers in Digital Design:

This list is not exhaustive. It is only an indication of directly connected LCF Courses.

Keziah Aguillo, 2023 BA Games Art, London College of Communication, UAL | Photograph: Alys Tomlinson
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Design and Craft Theatre, Performance and Screen

Costume Design

Costume design is a creative and collaborative field that focuses on bringing characters to life through clothing. Costume designers work closely with directors, writers, and production teams to research, sketch, and create garments that reflect each character’s personality, time period, and storyline. Their work supports the overall visual style of a production and helps actors embody their roles more fully. Costume designers are responsible for sourcing or making costumes, managing fittings, and ensuring continuity throughout filming or live performance.

This field requires strong skills in garment construction, historical and contemporary fashion knowledge, organisation, and communication. It is a hands-on, detail-focused pathway that blends storytelling, fashion, and technical expertise. From a career in costume design, you can expect to progress through in house and freelance roles, going from Costume Runner, to eventually becoming a Head of Costume or Lead Designer.

Examples of Roles within Costume Design:
  • Junior/Assistant Designer
  • Costume Trainee
  • Costume Design Assistant
  • Wardrobe Assistant
  • Costume Maker
  • Hand Finisher/Seamstress
  • Costume Runner
  • Breakdown Artist
  • Dresser
  • Costume Standby
Undergraduate Showcase, 2022 BA Costume for Theatre and Screen, Wimbledon College of Arts, UAL | Photograph: Levitt Bernstein
London College of Fashion courses relevant to careers in Costume Design:

This list is not exhaustive. It is only an indication of directly connected LCF Courses.

LCF Class of 2022 | Photograph: Suzannah Gabriel
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Apparel Design

Apparel design is a central field in the fashion industries where designers develop clothing and accessories for various audiences and occasions, ranging from casualwear to haute couture. Fashion designers start by researching trends, sketching ideas by hand or using digital tools like CAD, and selecting fabrics, colours, and patterns to bring their concepts to life. They may work for high street brands, luxury fashion houses, or as independent designers, and often specialise in specific areas such as menswear, womenswear, lingerie, or sportswear.

Roles in this field require creativity, attention to detail, and a solid understanding of current and future trends. Designers often collaborate with product developers, buyers, and marketing teams to produce collections that align with a brand’s identity and consumer needs. As the industry shifts towards sustainability and innovation, there’s increasing demand for designers who can blend creative flair with eco-conscious practices. Career paths can lead from assistant designer roles to senior design manager or head of atelier positions, offering many opportunities to shape the fashion landscape.

Examples of roles in apparel design:
  • Studio/Design/Atelier Assistant
  • Junior Designer
  • Fashion Designer
  • Tailor
  • Product Developer
  • Circular Design Expert
Chaoting Wang, 2022 MA Fashion Design Technology (Menswear), London College of Fashion, UAL | Photograph: Chaoting Wang
London College of Fashion courses relevant to careers in apparel design:

This list is not exhaustive. It is only an indication of directly connected LCF Courses.

Illustration by Kaya Belmont, 2023 Design Pathway, London College of Fashion, UAL | Photograph: Alys Tomlinson
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