Structure and form in textile design: curriculum and bibliography

Abstract

Textile design teachers and instructors perceive themselves at a disadvantage when faced with developing theoretical material relating to the geometry of structure and form in textile design. It is often the case that explanations of key concepts and principles are hidden in relatively obscure mathematical literature and wrapped in unfamiliar symbols and terminology. This paper challenges this state of affairs first by providing a brief outline from which textile design educationists, with just a basic knowledge of geometry, may develop an educational module to meet the specific needs of their own students and second, by identifying relevant bibliographical material accessible and understandable to the non-mathematically inclined community of design teachers. The curriculum material presented has been sourced and developed largely from past research projects of the author. The bibliography is associated with a course delivered annually to second-year BA design students at the University of Leeds.

Keywords:

• Design geometry
• structure
• form
• design curriculum
• bibliography

Acknowledgements

The author thanks Jeong Seon Sang (JSS) for assistance with the production of illustrative material.