Nicholas
Thomas

What do you enjoy most about studying Textile Design Innovation?
“Definitely the freedom to explore and the continued support and encouragement from all of the staff.  The technical staff are really knowledgeable but also enthusiastic. The fact that I can work across all the workshops for example, mould making, plaster casting, laser cutting, knit and weave, is testament to how I’ve been able to find a new way of exploring my own creative process.  The visiting lecturers are also really inspiring and seem to come just at the right time to spur us on further.”

How do you find the course staff?
“The academic staff have a breadth of knowledge and expertise and this really helps to keep us well informed and to contextualise the potential of our own practice.  There is a more informal attitude between staff and students which means you feel more like their colleagues which, for me particularly after being in industry for nine years. It helps to build good working relationships and develop my practice in ways I hadn’t thought of.”

How do you find the facilities?
“Really great, the variety available across all the different buildings is fantastic and reflects a forward-thinking approach to the course development. Having two 3D printers on site for example is really exciting and particularly on an MA, allows you to explore and fulfil innovation criteria.”

What do you like about studying and living in Nottingham?
“Nottingham’s size is great because you can walk almost everywhere. There is a really good developing arts scene in the city, and The Contemporary and Primary showcase a really progressive approach to art practice.”

Can you tell us a little bit about your final project?
“Initially I was planning to work on knitted textiles for interiors and alongside develop a workshop program so that I could go on to teach domestic knitting machine courses.

“It soon became clear, partly due to freedom to experiment here at NTU with all of the resources available, that my initial idea was evolving into something a bit more relevant although unexpected.

“I began exploring sensory surfaces and environments with a focus on their potential within a wellbeing concept.  This has since evolved a lot further into ideas about tactility and how the making process itself is having positive outcomes for mental health, rather than the finished artefact necessarily.”

Why would you recommend the course to someone thinking of studying in?
“If you’ve already been in industry and are perhaps at a creative ‘cross roads’, the space to think, make and explore with the support of the staff allows you to reflect on your practice and re-realise your potential.

“I don’t think many courses would allow you to deviate from your initial plan, so for me Textile Design Innovation has such scope that you can almost do anything and realise its relevance to the subject.”