There is no Planet T in Portugal - Designing a bachelor’s degree in Textile Design for Portugal

This exploratory study is part of design research and aims to understand and reflect on Portuguese higher education in textile design and to make recommendations for the different actors involved – academia, industry, and designers. The textile industry is undergoing a process of change in its production processes and business models to minimize the environmental impact caused. New forms of teaching are needed that go beyond the traditional approach and train the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world problems. A non-interventional study was conducted, based on reviewing the literature and focus group, to stimulate reflection and bring new perspectives on the object of study. The study concludes that Portuguese higher education in textile design is limited and should be complemented with a specialized offer in this field in a close relationship between academia and industry to allow shared education, thus contributing to weave a textile economy of the future.