NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY INVEST IN HP STITCH TECHNOLOGY TO OFFER STATE OF THE ART TEXTILE PRINTING
The department is well staffed with experienced technicians on hand to help creatives explore new printing processes and discover new materials and applications. Creativity is encouraged and design boundaries pushed as the student’s experiment using multiple applications. They are developing two new print hubs which will be open to all creatives within the university: Fashion, Interiors, Textiles, Theatre, Graphics and Embroidery and knitting, Fine Art, nobody is refused access.
IMAGE CREDIT: BETHANY ALDRED - GRADUATE NTU
Technical innovations and market trends are moving at an accelerated pace across the textile industry.
Educating and equipping the next generation with the practical experience and knowledge required to enter the industry is now paramount.
Nottingham Trent University have invested in HP Stitch S300 Dye sublimation digital textile printing equipment to build on their existing printing facility to ensure that the graduates are primed and ready for their future careers. The move marks a shift in strategy for the university.
Based in the Bonington building their printing department offers Art and Design students a wide range of technologies for digital production, all of which enhances their creativity and printing knowledge.
Art and Design students can now explore traditional flat-bed craft and digital simultaneously.
The department is well staffed with experienced technicians on hand to help creatives explore new printing processes and discover new materials and applications. Creativity is encouraged and design boundaries pushed as the student’s experiment using multiple applications. They are developing two new print hubs which will be open to all creatives within the university: Fashion, Interiors, Textiles, Theatre, Graphics and Embroidery and knitting, Fine Art, nobody is refused access.
The department offers an open-door policy, and no course is excluded from utilizing the facilities - making print accessible to all. “This is with the aim to make print more accessible to all of our students, and to encourage them to work more collaboratively and creatively across disciplines and across the school. And even further afield, working with businesses and with other departments within the university” commented Paula Love, Lead Print Technician NTU.
NTU are proactively looking for more collaborations with the textile industry, across both the Fashion and the Interiors sectors to add to their many successful collaborations. Paula explained: “Working with business such as Romo and Next offers the student real-time experience and helps them build strong commercial skills. We have a lot of live projects that we run, especially through textiles. Live projects are great - where they get industry to come in, give a brief to the students, the students then do the designs, then go back to the company. Show them the designs, and work with them on ways of improving them. It also makes the students competitive. So, there'll be groups that work together and there'll be solo competitions. There are many different opportunities for them to put their skills into practice”.
Investing in the HP Stitch S300 has ensured that the university offers a super-fast print service, students send their files and the NTU print technicians will print their dye sublimation paper, which they will then take away and appy, creatively, to the fabric of their choice.
“Dye sublimation inks present an opportunity to explore mixed media, new materials, duplex printing, upcycled and dead stock fabrics – foiling, flocking, nothing is off limits” Paula added. “The students are naturally curious and are encouraged to use the technology innovatively”.
“The HP Stitch S300 was installed earlier this year and has become a popular print process with our students. I was very happy with the installation and training provided by RA Smart, the machine basically almost looks after itself. I have found it very easy to use” Paula added.
The students at NTU are encouraged to develop sustainable practice, and to think about all aspects of the design process in a circular format. Paula explained “I love that HP recycle the cartridges and the heads. I've got a little box that sits under the table. I've just got to fill that up and then HP come and pick it up, it's really helpful. We don't waste anything. Especially when you're printing with paper, just literally print what you need, roll it forward a little – that’s it. The inks run down right to the very last millimeter and use the entirety”.
Nottingham Trent University offer their students a strong learning environment that’s equipped with the latest technology. Their investments ensure that their reputation is secured for future generations. The industry is digitizing at an alarming pace, driving the adoption of sustainable technologies throughout the textile industry.
Keeping pace with these recent innovations is a constant challenge. To address this the academic sector have begun to break down the silos of the past and to work together, building a network for shared knowledge through CHEAD. CHEAD supports a Technical Alliance bringing together technicians, technical tutors and technical leaders within CHEAD membership institutions and create opportunities to communicate and share best practice.
NTU recently held the “Facing the Future: Identity, Communication, Responsibility” conference. Bringing together representatives from about 20 universities to offer a great opportunity to network and compare different work practices. This is exactly what our industry needs. All stakeholders working together to ensure a better future for us all.
We look forward to playing our part in this collaborative journey to a greener future.
