Furniture Design (FURN)

This course focuses on the integration of design and fabrication skills necessary to complete an original project. The course covers the properties and working characteristics of hand tool use, joinery techniques and safe machine operations in the use of materials appropriate to furniture design.

This course introduces students to the field of furniture design. Lectures, class discussions and exercises provide the foundation to engage the furniture design process and the communication and presentation of ideas through diverse projects.

In this course, students are expected to develop the drawing skills and 2D presentation techniques used to convey design ideas required in the furniture design profession.

In this course, students synthesize their design and fabrication skills. The course explores the conceptual, aesthetic and structural issues involved with the design and construction of a project utilizing a range of techniques and commonly used furniture materials.

Understanding the composition and quality of spaces in which humans work, interact, play, live and utilize their furniture is the basis of this course. Lectures, exercises and case studies provide students an appreciation of the complexities and nuances of the built environment towards a more meaningful and responsible furniture design process.

A skilled furniture designer is familiar with the tools and techniques appropriate to a variety of materials, including metals. Students explore metal manipulation, machine operation and safety, proper use of hand tools, metal identification and cold assembly techniques in a variety of fabrication projects. This knowledge expands design and production possibilities, preparing students to meet the demands of the profession.

Through lectures, studio assignments and research, students explore traditional and contemporary materials and manufacturing methods unique to the furnishings industry as well as those common in other fields. Students are introduced to the technical and practical considerations that influence the choices of material and production. Emphasis is placed on the relationship between the designer and manufacturer.

Through a series of lectures and seminars, this course enables students to identify, challenge and explore new concepts and design competencies within the parameters of markets and opportunities. The course also addresses trends and forecasting, patterns of domestic competition, practices in international import and export, packaging and transport of products. Students are exposed to case studies covering customer buying systems and hierarchies of needs, behavioral tendencies, cultural diversities, price determinants and market cost factors.

The complex process of furniture design for the market is examined and explored, addressing issues of function, structure, aesthetics, context and culture. The use of 2D and 3D visualization tools is instrumental as students develop and resolve their design solutions.

This course is an introduction to plastics as a material for design and manufacture. Through lectures, demonstrations and small-scale exercises and projects, students become familiar with the vocabulary of plastics and plastics design. The course covers basic design principles, issues in plastics, design protocols, key manufacturing processes and fabrication techniques specific to designing for plastics.

This course gives the students an understanding of specific design proponents, movements and historical trajectories relevant to furniture design, in a manner that informs and complements their design process. The course draws upon historical lineage and identifies the predominant civilizations throughout history and the contribution they have made to furniture design. This course seeks to trace the dominant furniture paradigms and historical shifts that have occurred from prehistory up to the 21st century. Specific emphasis is placed on theoretical and ideological developments surrounding the age or era in which such developments occurred, and study is focused on the effects of such historical events, shifts and consequences.

Through this course, students become proficient in industry-standard modeling software applications, and how they allow for quick, accurate and transformable visualization of designs to provide a tool to facilitate communication between designer, engineer and client.

In this course, students synthesize their design and fabrication skills. The course explores the conceptual, aesthetic and structural issues involved with the design and construction of a project utilizing various wood bending techniques.

This course explores design, construction and packaging issues associated with the production of accessories for the living environment. Students design, develop and fabricate a product with a focus on efficient production strategies and appropriate integration of assembly processes, including the potential use of various rapid prototyping technologies.

Through a series of lectures, demonstrations, assignments and projects, students gain knowledge and experience with the materials, equipment and techniques involved in the production of soft furnishings for a variety of functional and aesthetic purposes. The students are exposed to sewing technology, patternmaking, structural design and upholstery techniques that provide the parameters for students to conceptualize, explore, design and produce a full-scale prototype.

This course prepares students to enter the career field of furniture design. Topics include developing professional contacts, interviewing skills, portfolios and refined résumés.

Research, design and preparation for prototyping are the focus of this course. It is intended to provide students with the opportunity to create the necessary documents and visual communication, making prototype execution feasible. Students generate concepts within the context of a directed project and prepare the necessary documents for execution of a prototype in later courses.

While applying their accumulated experience, knowledge and skills in a directed design project, students demonstrate their command of the design process, process documentation and presentation of a design project.

This course provides the student the opportunity to propose and manage a faculty approved self-initiated design project with appropriate focus, inquiry, documentation, execution and presentation.

Internships offer students valuable opportunities to work in a professional environment and gain firsthand experience to help them prepare for careers. In an approved internship setting, a student typically spends one quarter working with an on-site professional supervisor and a faculty internship supervisor to achieve specific goals and objectives related to the program of study.

This course focuses on sponsored projects with the SCAD furniture design program and various industry partners. Students are exposed to the challenges of working for real clients to solve current problems in the furniture design field. Students employ both traditional and digital tools while working within a team environment to create solutions to meet project objectives and exceed client needs within this project-driven studio.

Plastics and plastics processes are covered in the context of a wide range of applications and within a variety of industries. Through lectures, case studies, demonstrations, and small-scale exercises and projects, students become familiar with the vocabulary of plastics and plastics design. Criteria for the design of plastic components and identification of processing methods are discussed and applied.

Through this course, students become proficient in industry-standard modeling software applications and how they allow for quick, accurate and transformable visualization of designs as a tool to facilitate communication between designer, engineer and client.

Through reading, writing and discussion, students explore the value of design and the role of furniture in our culture. With subtopics approaching sustainability, design methodology and ethics, among others, students examine contemporary discourse and establish their own design philosophy.

Safe and proper use of studio fabrication equipment specific to and essential in the construction of furniture is covered in this course. Skills acquired in this course are instrumental to the effective production of furniture forms whether for testing, evaluation, presentation or exhibition. Students become familiar with and experience key processes involved in fabricating furniture artifacts large or small, providing the foundation for success in subsequent studios.

In this course, students acquire and integrate the knowledge and practice of bending wood as it applies to furniture and accessories.

Presented in a manner that informs and complements their design intentions, innovative interventions and creative intelligence, this course provides students an understanding of major design proponents, movements and historical trajectories relevant to furniture design. The course draws upon the historical lineage of furniture design and identifies the predominant breakthroughs, materials and techniques throughout history, with specific emphasis on theoretical and ideological developments and the effects of such historical events.

Students focus on a design project that considers the human experience with furniture in the built environment. The student applies acquired skills and knowledge toward solving a multifaceted furniture design problem of either a predetermined or proposed context. Students develop comprehensive documentation of sources, analysis and synthesis that supports the intended design solution and demonstrates an understanding of material, functional and aesthetic requirements in the execution of the course project.

As the result of extensive research, students demonstrate the ability to pursue an inclusive concept development process, including the core components of research methodology, analysis and material integration. The process culminates in a written statement for presentation to the M.F.A. 45-hour review and a narrative draft to accompany a body of work.

Students focus on a design project integrating research, content and the iterative process as applied toward the furniture form and its role in the built environment and market. Students create thorough documentation supporting and advancing design solutions and their feasibility relative to established design goals. Considerations of function and the material and technical requirements suggested by the design are addressed.

All M.A. students in furniture design are required to complete a final portfolio project that represents the culmination of their academic program.

Application of learned research methodologies and demonstration of in-depth knowledge on furniture design form the basis for this course. Students plan and undertake the first phase of the intended body of work for their graduate project, leading to fully realized forms and the accompanying support documentation.

In this course, students practice core and advanced processes in the exploration of metal as a machine and fabrication medium. Machine and material safety are integrated with a focus on the proper use of hand tools, metal identification, welding, and cold assembly techniques.

Evaluation, refinement and focus of the topic investigation provide opportunities for the student to build on the first phase of the graduate thesis project. Deeper analysis, investigation and understanding are reflected in the execution, presentation and documentation of the second phase of the graduate project and exhibit planning.

Students acquire knowledge of sewing technology, patternmaking, structural design and upholstery techniques. Students conceptualize, develop, design and execute a soft furnishing ensemble constructed from available and alternative materials applicable to varied aesthetic and functional purpose.

In this course, students prepare to enter their career field. Topics include developing professional contacts, interviewing skills, portfolio and refined résumés. Graduate students develop a comprehensive package to prepare for employment, based on improved skill sets and capabilities. In-class learning is augmented by visiting furniture manufacture and design facilities in the area.

Students in this course undertake a field assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

Students in this course undertake a teaching assignment under the supervision of a faculty member.

This course focuses on sponsored projects with the SCAD furniture design program and various industry partners. Graduate students are exposed to the challenges of working for real clients to solve current problems in the furniture design field. Students employ both traditional and digital tools while working within a team environment to create solutions that meet project objectives and exceed client needs within this project-driven studio.

As the pinnacle of the furniture design M.F.A. degree program, students complete a graduate-level thesis that presents a mature, resolved body of work, and demonstrates advanced professional competence through mastery of the technical, creative and aesthetic elements of the discipline. Students earning an M.F.A. in furniture design seek creative design solutions by engaging in research and thorough reflection of design opportunity, intent and process, culminating in a thesis that expands the body of knowledge in the field of furniture design.