Textile design is a subject that encompasses both design and technology; aesthetically pleasing patterns and forms must be set within technical parameters to create successful fabrics. When considering education methods in design programmes, identifying the most relevant learning approach is key to creating future successes. Yet are the most suitable teaching methods being utilised? This paper discusses the learning styles of textile and fashion design students at The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University and identifies their overall learning style biases. It then goes on to compare these two institutional approaches and examines whether the teaching methods used suitably match student learning biases.