Thea Carr

Designing her destiny: Thea Carr’s path through NESCol and beyond

Choosing not one, but two School-College courses while still a pupil at Cults Academy set Thea Carr on a successful path in Fashion & Textiles. Now a proud graduate of the 2025 Aberdeen Graduation Ceremony, Thea has completed her HND in Textiles, and her journey is only just beginning. 

School-College learning experience

During her senior phase at school, Thea enrolled in both the Fashion & Textile Design and Fashion Business School-College courses, attending NESCol’s City Campus four afternoons a week. The college environment proved to be a perfect fit for her learning style. These courses offer young people the chance to experience college life while still at school, helping them make more informed decisions about their future in education or employment. 

Course progression

Thea thrived in this setting. After successfully completing both courses alongside her SQA qualifications, she progressed to the full-time HND in Textiles. Her talent continued to shine — she achieved an A in her graded unit and, after two years at NESCol, secured direct entry into the second year of the BA (Hons) Design for Textiles at Heriot-Watt University. 

Showcasing her creativity

As part of her HND, Thea took part in the Aberdeen Tailors Incorporation NESCol Fashion Development Award at Trinity Hall — home to the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen. Launched in 2024, the competition challenges students to create themed garment collections. Working in teams of up to four, students develop a portfolio and a finished garment, collaborating on research and design before presenting their work to the full membership and guests. 

In addition to this prestigious event, Thea also showcased her creativity in two fashion shows during her HND — designing, producing, and modelling her own garments at both the city’s Maritime Museum and Trinity Hall. She describes the experience as “awesome!” 

Students’ Association involvement

Thea also served as a class representative, working closely with fellow students and the NESCol Students’ Association to share feedback and help improve the student experience. 

Reflecting on her time at College, Thea said: 

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at NESCol over the last few years. The courses have not only widened my knowledge and skills, but they’ve also provided me with great practical experiences and opportunities that have improved my confidence. I’d recommend the HND Textiles course to anyone interested in pursuing an art & design route — in fact, a family friend plans to apply next year after hearing about the positive experience I’ve had.” 

Looking ahead, Thea hopes to build a career in the textile industry and has ambitions to one day launch her own printmaking business.