MAFA 1639 ELECTIVE IN TEXTILE DECORATION

Course Description:

The course takes learners through a historical perspective of textile design focusing on natural and artificial developments. The course explores the development of patterns, designs, style and fashion. Different methods of transfer and registration techniques are explored regarding patterns in all over repeats, spot counter change in side-by-side, half drop, quarter drop and three quarters drop.

Course objectives:

By the end of this course, learners should be in position to;

  1. Analyze the development of textile decoration in both materials and techniques from art history as regards the methods and techniques used.
  2. Experiment with different methods and techniques of surface decoration, using different materials and techniques.
  3. Examine different patterns and their usage in the textile industry.
  4. Explore with various natural and artificial patterns with particular transfer techniques.
  5. Explore the different methods and techniques of teaching textile decoration

Course Content

  • Historical perspective of textile design.The history of textiles/textile designs, focusing on ancient Egyptians, Romans and Greeks in relation to the near East. African textiles (especially from western Africa)
  • Exploring Patterns. Natural patterns on different natural objects regarding focus, textile and colour. Manipulation of the natural patterns into various designs.
  • Transfer methods and techniques. Qualities of different fabrics i.e. silk, cotton linen etc relation to different dyes/coloours. Developing modify for different transfer techniques (i.e. from simple potato prints, stencil, graphic films and photo emulsion)
  • Printing styles. Styles (i.e. side – by side, half drop quarter-drop and ¾ drop)
  • Relationship between textiles and usageExamining different patterns development in relation to their usage: i.e. fabrics for shirts, dresses curtains, table and mattress covers, etc.
  • Assessment in textile decoration. Assessment techniques for different textiles in education

Delivery methods

The content will be delivered through discussions and research; experimentation with various material, methods and techniques through projects.

Evaluation

Coursework (40%)

This includes theory (10%) and an average of the assessments from the students’ port folio of human figure studies.

Examination (60%)

Theory for 20%

Practical section 40%

References

1. Duncan, C.(2002). The Art of African Textiles.San Diego, California: Thunder Bay Press.

2. Gillow, J.(2003). African Textiles: Colour and Creativity across a Continent.London: Thames & Hudson.

3. Gillow, J. and Sentence, B.(1999). World Textiles: A Visual Guide to Traditional Techniques.London: Thames & Hudson.

4. Hoskins, L. (ed.) (2005). The Papered Wall: The History, Patterns and Techniques of Wall Paper.London: Thames & Hudson.

5. McNamara, Andrew, and Snelling, Patrick 1995. Design and Practice for Printed Textiles, Melbourne: OxfordUniversity Press.

6. Meller, S. and Elffers, J.(1998). Textile Designs: 200 Years of Patterns for Printed Fabrics arranged by Motif, Colour, Period and Design.London: Thames & Hudson.

7. Meurant, G.(1995). Mbuti Design: Paintings by Pygmy Women of the IturiForest.London: Thames & Hudson.

8. Yates, M.(1998). Textiles: A Handbook for Designers, revised ed., London, New York: W.W. Norton.