A methodological study in design didactics based on historical patterns of industrial textile heritage

The aim of this study is to produce new and creative textile design proposals based on the reinterpretation of historical patterns from the archive of the Wool Museum at the University of Beira Interior. For this purpose, textile samples were selected from the archive according to the specific criteria: 100% wool composition, Batavian twill weave structure and houndstooth pattern design. In the folowing exercise, the design process model used was based on the Taxonomy of Significant Learning proposed by Dee Fink and variables such as technique, scale, colour and material were explored. The exercise was applied to forty undergraduate fashion design students, with a detailed analysis conducted on a representative sample of ten participants. The analysis was made through a mixed methodological approach that included inquiries, participant observation, and a qualitative evaluation of creative outcomes using Edward de Bono’s theory of creative thinking. This study presents a methodological framework for the practice of fashion design rooted in industrial textile heritage, the exercise highlights the pedagogical value of integrating heritage-based design methods into higher education curricula, generating a creative and contemporary vision of the revitalisation of textile heritage. Ultimately, this work contributes to the advancement of cultural sustainability and pedagogical innovation in fashion design education, demonstrating the replicable potential of this exercise as a teaching model that connects industrial textile heritage with contemporary creative learning.