A furniture designer creates furniture and may work for a company or start their own. Technical skills and knowledge of furniture history are important, and education can be gained through a design program or apprenticeship.
A furniture designer is a type of craftsman who creates furniture such as sofas, tables and chairs. Depending on the circumstances of the designer’s employment, he may strictly conceive furniture designs or he may also produce and sell his designs. Furniture design requires highly developed technical skills as well as an understanding of current and past furniture styles. Therefore, the path to becoming a designer often includes a mix of hands-on training and fine arts education.
In some cases, a furniture designer may be employed by a large furniture or home improvement manufacturer. These types of companies often only hire designers to generate new designs, sometimes as part of a creative team. The plans for the parts that the designer creates are passed along to the companies’ manufacturers. Depending on the size of the company, parts can be produced in small batches or in bulk.
This type of work has some benefits for the furniture designer. For example, he is not responsible for the cost of production supplies and is not obligated to market his product. On the other hand, some designers may feel inhibited by the need to stay within the confines of the company’s design ethos, or may dislike the element of compromise that can accompany teamwork.
The furniture designer who prefers to have more control over his production may choose to start his own company. Here, he is more likely to see his drawings from conception to sale, sketching a plan for each piece, building and finally selling. He may operate a showroom where customers can view and purchase his work, or he may work on commission alone.
While self-employment offers the designer a great deal of creative freedom, it also comes with a number of disadvantages. He is responsible for all sourcing and production costs and, in some cases, employee salaries and renting store space. To gain exposure and attract clients, he must also market his own work, which can be expensive and time-consuming.
Every furniture designer must have a range of technical skills, from competence in craft disciplines such as woodworking, cabinetry, and upholstery to mastering computer-based design programs. In addition, an understanding of furniture history can help the designer to contextualize their work and build on existing designs. If he chooses to work for himself, he can also benefit from training in sales and marketing. To gain these skills, a prospective designer can apply to a furniture design program at an art college or university. Alternatively, he can work as an apprentice to an established designer.
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