CAD for Textile and Fashion Print Design
- Level(s) of Study: Short course; Professional
- Course Fee:
£495
- Start Date(s): 26 July 2027
- Duration: Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm, one week
- Study Mode(s): Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements: More information
Introduction:
On this practical course you’ll learn how to digitally experiment and develop your own designs to enhance your creativity and technical skills.
This course is ideal for anyone with an interest in surface pattern design. Using a variety of Adobe Creative Cloud applications, including Illustrator, Photoshop and Firefly you will have the opportunity to create innovative digital textile/fashion/gifting designs and patterns.
If you have an interest in textiles, fashion or surface pattern design in general this course will enable you to utilise digital design techniques to expand your creative skillset.
Ideally, you’ll bring to the course textile, fashion or art print designs that you’re currently working on or are inspired by to allow you get the most out of the personalised practical projects.
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You’ll be part of a design community in our creative studio culture; one that promotes discussion and collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas. -
With a limited class size you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your designs at home or work. -
Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in varied practices. -
On successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge.
Here’s what our previous attendees said:
“Stephen is one of the best teachers I have ever come across.” FJ
“Brilliant course. Stephen was very helpful and knowledgeable. I would definitely do another course.” SG
“It has made me fall in love with the Uni and textiles, and has inspired me to apply for my MA at NTU.” LT
“From not having any knowledge of this subject prior, I have learnt so much in such a short amount of time. The tutor was amazing - he was so passionate and positive.” MM
“I enjoyed Stephen’s style of tutoring and enthusiasm throughout. The course was spot on – from start to finish. I would not hesitate to attend another course led by him.” PS
'I enjoyed learning Illustrator, building my confidence in design, and meeting like-minded people that I hope to stay in contact with. Stephen was an amazing tutor.” CC
“Our tutor was available to suit our personal needs during the course, so everyone got what they expected. Working with our own artwork was great as well.” JF
'I wanted to do this course to refresh my skills from my Degree Course, which I completed around 10 years ago. From doing this course I can now successfully use Photoshop and Illustrator to make repeat patterns to apply them to fashion and interiors. I've also gained knowledge into where to generate ideas and where to sell my work online.' AFN
'I most enjoyed being creative and having the opportunity to chat about our individual projects with the group. The tutor Stephen was very encouraging, and I was happy with how much time we spent on each element of the course.' AFN
'I did this course because I wanted to learn how to design using Adobe Software. I've now learnt the skills that I need to produce products for my business.' KG
What you’ll study
Through a combination of group demonstrations, step-by-step tuition and one-to-one support, you will develop your own textile and print designs using industry-standard Adobe Creative Cloud applications. You will explore how digital tools and AI can enhance your creative process, generate new ideas, and help bring your personal design style to life. The course also provides opportunities to investigate current trends in textile design and fashion print, while considering ways to showcase and sell your work online.
During this course, you will:
- Digitise and develop your designs using computer-aided design
- Create repeat patterns and placement prints using Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Firefly
- Explore different pattern repeat styles and layouts
- Transform hand-drawn and painted artwork into digital designs for further development
- Experiment with digital painting and drawing tools, image manipulation, texture, colour and pattern repeats
- Build and apply effective colour palettes to your designs
- Incorporate AI into your design workflow to generate concepts inspired by your own creative approach
- Use AI tools to explore alternative design directions and sources of inspiration
- Apply your designs to photographic mock-ups to visualise finished products
- Develop original work in your own area of interest and personal style.
- Session 1: Getting Started with Digital Textile Design
- Session 2: Creating Repeat Patterns in Illustrator
- Session 3: Digitising Artwork and Working with Photoshop
- Session 4: Developing Designs with AI and Creative Tools
- Session 5: Final Project Development and Next Steps
Exploring the principles of pattern creation and digital design workflows, you will be introduced to Adobe Illustrator with its key drawing and editing tools, creating your first digital motifs and design elements.
- Introduction to CAD for fashion print and textile design
- Understanding pattern design fundamentals
- Introduction to Adobe Illustrator
- Exploring Illustrator drawing and design tools
Develop your technical skills as you learn how professional designers create seamless repeat patterns for textiles, fashion and interiors. Through practical exercises, you will experiment with different repeat structures and begin applying them to your own creative ideas.
- Creating repeat patterns in Adobe Illustrator
- Exploring repeat styles and layouts
- Developing original pattern designs
Discover how to transform traditional artwork into digital assets. You will learn how to scan and refine hand-drawn or painted designs before using Adobe Photoshop to manipulate imagery, enhance colour and create repeat patterns suitable for a range of textile applications.
- Introduction to Adobe Photoshop
- Digitising artwork using a scanner
- Editing and enhancing digital artwork
- Creating repeat patterns in Photoshop
Build on your growing skills by working on your own design concepts with tutor guidance. You will explore how AI-powered tools can support creative development, helping you generate ideas, experiment with new directions and streamline elements of your design workflow.
- Developing personal design concepts
- Introduction to Adobe Firefly and AI-assisted design
- Using Adobe Capture to generate digital assets
- Tutor-supported project development
In the final session, you will refine and complete your designs with support from the tutor. You will also be introduced to useful resources and professional development opportunities to help you continue your creative practice beyond the course.
- Final project development and refinement
- One-to-one tutor support and feedback
- Useful resources for further learning and inspiration
- Preparing your work for future development and presentation
Student Work
How you’re taught
This course will be delivered in person on our City Campus.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a have a good understanding of how the computer software can be used in different specialist areas to enable you to digitally reproduce your designs for commercial use.
You’ll also start to create a body of new digital artwork that can be used for work or to enhance a CV or add to your portfolio.
Contact hours
You will receive 25 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.
96% of previous course attendees were satisfied with the course, received the attention they needed and would consider doing another short course at NTU.
Careers and employability
Certificate of attendance and digital badge
Upon successful completion of the course, you will receive a digital certificate of attendance and a digital badge powered by Accredible.
Your digital credential is more than just a certificate – it’s secure, verifiable, and protected against fraud through encryption and blockchain technology.
They also come with detailed metadata, including an overview of the skills you have achieved on the course, evidence of completion, and assessment criteria if appropriate.
Share your achievements seamlessly with friends, customers, and potential employers online, and proudly add your badge or certificate to social media platforms such as LinkedIn, so all the right people can see it.
Campus and facilities
You will be based in the School of Art and Design on the City Campus.
You will have access to a Computer Aided Design (CAD) suite equipped with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.
You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.
You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.
Entry requirements
Level: Beginner
Entry requirement: This course will be taught on Apple Mac computers and whilst no software experience is required, you should be confident in saving files and basic computer functions.
You must be over the age of 18 to attend this course.
Fees and funding
The fee for this course is £495.
Payment is due at the time of booking - ask us if you'd prefer an invoice sent to your company.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.
You will also need to bring with you:
- A notepad and pen
- sketchbook and pencils
- A USB stick.
- Ideally you will bring to the course textile designs that you are working on already or which inspire you, to ensure you get the most out of the practical projects.
You can read the terms and conditions of booking here.
Need accommodation for a week-long summer course?
We offer single rooms in shared apartments in Nottingham Trent University’s city campus accommodation, which is ideal if you're looking to be based in Nottingham's lively city centre and want an economical place to stay.
Bookings are taken on a seven-night basis, from Saturday to Saturday.
The rooms are single occupancy, with a private bathroom.
Find out more at www.ntu.ac.uk/summeraccommodation
How to apply
You can book your place via the NTU online store:
26 - 30 July 2027, Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm, one week
Browse all our fashion, textiles and costume short courses
Any questions?
Contact the short course team:
Email: creativeshortcourses@ntu.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2813
