Course Details

1. Recognize how various design processes lead to furniture design problem solving and identify the importance of thematic research.
2. Demonstrate and experiment with various materials, surfaces and forms and creatively employ them in time related problem solving
3. Analyze and understand for the structure and materials of furniture construction.
4. Experiment with various design methods tools, both technically and culturally
5. Develop and recognize the process of ergonomics.
6. Differentiate mainstream and avant-garde furniture.
7. Analyse, evaluate, interpret and criticize simple observation to thematic research.
8. Encourage students to develop verbal and non-verbal communication skills

Introduction to Furniture Design: This is an introduction to the concepts, functions, materials and techniques of furniture design. It also is a review of design theory development in two- and three-dimensional forms of a basic furniture concept or design. Lectures and design problems involve drawings, models and prototypes.

Research Methodology / Studio Work: Students work on a particular project. They study and investigate the theme but also concentrating on the background history of furniture design, the development of the detail as well as the visual drawings. Importance will be placed on students' work deriving from specific concepts and understanding on the process of designing and design quality.

Presentation Skills: Development of presentation skills in order to orally communicate ideas and research findings. Participation in group discussions and debates surrounding given theme of the project

Translating 2D ideas into 3D objects / furniture through model making exercises: Giving great attention to model making techniques and great attention to photographic techniques when introduced to concept, scale and manipulation through model photography.

Final Presentation: Students participate in final presentations where ideas are discussed from the initial research stage, through to concepts and final design outcomes.

No specific textbook required

• Visual contemporary references in the form of online magazines www.dezeen.com, www.designboom.com, www.yatzer.com, www.dexigner.com, www.mocoloco.com
• INDUSTRIAL DESIGN, J. HESKETT, THAMES&HUDSON.
• DESIGN OF THE XX CENTURY, CH. & P. FIELL, TASCHEN.
• 1000 CHAIRS, CH. & P. FIELL, TASCHEN.
• House of (Design Academy Eindhoven) Concepts, Louise Schouwenberg & Gert
• Hella Jongerius, Phaidon
• What is Product Design, by Laura Slack, Rotovision
• Simply Droog by Renny Ramakers and Anneke Moor, Droog 2006
• The Furniture Machine – Furniture since 1990, Gareth Williams, V&A Publications 2006
• Spoon, Emilia Terragni, Phaidon 2002
• Fork, Phaidon 2007
• Simply Materials, Victionary ISBN 978-988-98228-7-3
• The Independent Design Guide – Innovative Products from the New Generation, Laura Houseley, Thames and Hudson
• The Psychology of everyday things, Donald A.Norman, Basic Books 1988
• Design Research Methods and Perspectives, Brenda Laurel, The MIT Press 2003
• Materials for Inspirational Design WOOD, Chris Lefteri, Rotovision, 2005
• Material World, Innovative Materials for Architecture and Design, Frame, Birkhauser
• Materiology, The Creative Industry’s guide to Materials and Technology, Frame, Birkhauser.
• The making of Design – From The First Model to the Final Product, Gerrit Terstiege, Birkhauser

The taught part of the course is delivered to the students by means of extended project briefings, practical workshops, exercises, illustrated lectures and group critiques. The lecturer prepares lecture notes and presentations.

Lectures, practical workshops, exercises are supplemented by the creative use of computer/digital based skills and hand skills such as photography, illustration and print. Electronic image/type via Apple Macintosh or PC hardware and software can lead to alternative and unique visual solutions. The outcome is always enriched through visual research and reading.

During class session students are centred to practical work, personal research, realization and manipulation in the project work.