Example design dissertation topic 5:

Textile design: A survey into the cyclical nature of colours in Britain’s carpet industry.

The revolution in floor coverings that has taken place in Britain over the last twenty years has seen that carpet retains the dominant market share, as a percentage of the total volume of floor coverings sold. Sales of wood, laminates and vinyl floor coverings, nonetheless, continue to be a threat to the carpet industry, and the volatile laminates sector is likely to increase upon improvement in the housing market. However, both the production fabrics and the nature of the carpets sold have changed; whereas 100% wool once ruled, polypropylene is now the fabric of choice – especially for those involved in the ‘bargain basement’ end of the industry. Richly decorated patterns (such as those once immortalised by Wilton and Axminster) have also given way to plainer block colours – though patterns are, in 2012, making a comeback. This dissertation charts not only the changing fortunes of the carpet industry in the UK over the last twenty years (focusing predominantly on both manufacture and purchasing trends in Wilton, Wiltshire) but also seeks to explain the cyclical nature of pattern-plain-pattern through an analysis of customers’ perceptions and interviews with designers.

Suggested initial topic reading:

• Attfield, J. (1994). ‘The tufted carpet in Britain: Its rise from the bottom of the pile, 1952-1970’, Journal of Design History, Vol. 7(3), 205-216.
• Jackson, L. (2002). Twentieth century pattern design. London: Octopus.
• Zhao, Y. and Dai, H.L. (2006). ‘Advanced tufted carpet patterning technology’, Journal of Zhejiang University – Science A, Vol. 7(3), pp. 374-377.