What Does it Take to Be a Furniture Designer?
When it comes to furniture, we love the pieces that express our personality and add value to our lives. This is why there is so much interest in furniture design at the moment. We are in an exciting time for the industry, with modern manufacturing technologies opening up new possibilities and a drive towards sustainability pushing an exploration of new materials and forms. The result is an era of furniture that is more exciting than ever before.
Furniture designers often have an artistic background, but they also need to be able to translate their creative vision into technical drawings and blueprints. The best way to gain the necessary skills is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in furniture design or a related subject like product design, interior design, industrial design or architecture.
Once a designer has gained the necessary skills, they can start building their portfolio and finding work as a furniture designer. Typical responsibilities of the job include sketching and technical drawing, meeting with clients on a regular basis and working directly with production staff in manufacturing facilities.
Depending on the style and focus of the furniture designer, they may need to have knowledge of a variety of different materials, styles, and trends. This is because different industries like fashion, music and film can influence the aesthetic of a piece of furniture, as well as changes to manufacturing processes that can open up the possibility for a whole new range of shapes and finishes.
Some of the most successful furniture designers are masters at finding inspiration, which helps them create designs that stand out from the crowd. For example, the famous Jonathan Adler has a knack for incorporating an artistic perspective into the lines of his sofas and chairs. How he manages to get the line of this sofa so tailored or that chair so sculptured is something we can only guess at, but it is no doubt part of his unique artistic point of view.
Furniture is often based on standard dimensions that are determined by human ergonomics, safety and structural considerations. For example, a kitchen table must be at a height that allows people to sit comfortably at it, while bookshelves should be no wider than four feet so they can easily fit onto a wall. These standards help to ensure that the finished product is easy for customers to use and doesn’t have any unnecessary features that could increase manufacturing costs.
Besides the need to follow general guidelines, furniture designers must have a strong understanding of how to work with wood and metal. This includes knowing how to use a power saw, how to build basic furniture frames, and the mechanics of different mechanisms. This knowledge is crucial for producing successful pieces that can be mass produced and sold at a reasonable price. It is also important for a good furniture designer to be able to visualize their designs and be able to make changes quickly when needed.
