Across the disciplines, the elements of design: line, space, shape, form, texture, and color are used by every designer. The following discussion presents each element of design and examples of how it is used in clothing, textiles and/or interiors.

The word textile is derived from the Latin verb texere, meaning “to weave.” Originally, therefore, textile referred only to woven fabrics and specifically excluded knitted cloth, lace, netting, felt, braid, and cord. Today textile has become a generic term for all fiber materials, whether made by weaving, knitting, bonding, laminating, felting, or other processes. It can even refer to paperlike materials, but it excludes leather and plastic sheeting.

Textile manufacturing is one of the largest industries in the world today. Whether done in the home as a cottage industry or in large factories, most countries produce fibers and textiles for both domestic consumption and for export. Even in countries that are considered underdeveloped, the introduction of modern technology has enabled the workforce to mass-produce textiles for the world market and the country to compete successfully with the more industrialized societies. India, China, Bangladesh, and Egypt and several other African countries have developed sizable textile-producing industries.

Textiles are used in a large variety of products. Wearing apparel consumes a great deal of material. Household items made from fabrics include towels, sheets and other bedding, table linens, mattresses, carpets and rugs, draperies and curtains, some wallpapers, and upholstered furniture. Many of these items can also be found in hotels and motels, retail stores, offices, restaurants, recreational facilities, and other commercial establishments.