What is a Furniture Designer?

A furniture designer uses a variety of skills to design new furniture and related products for industrial, commercial and domestic clients. The products vary greatly, from bespoke design or limited batches of furniture, to mass-produced items.

Designers work alone or alongside colleagues creating concepts and designs that balance innovative design, functional requirements and aesthetic appeal. There may also be product development responsibilities involved.

The process of furniture design demands creativity, business awareness and skills in marketing, finance, sales and manufacturing. The role may involve a number of functions, particularly for the self-employed, including designer, production manager, buyer, salesperson, accountant, and maintenance engineer.

Typical work activities

The exact nature of the role will depend on the setting:

• a self-employed/freelance designer usually works alone or with one or two other like-minded craftspeople;
• self-employed designers usually need to engage in some form of self-promotion – e.g. attending trade exhibitions and design shows, or arranging publicity through specialist publications;
• in-house designers in a manufacturing company may originate new designs or improve existing designs;
• consultants often work to a brief agreed with the client and have responsibility for managing a project on the client’s behalf.

Typical work activities vary according to the type of furniture being designed and made, but may include:

• working to and developing briefs from clients;
• establishing design and performance criteria;
• testing product concepts using sketches, full-size card models, hard prototypes and computer-aided design (CAD);
• liaising with other departments (in the case of a manufacturing company), e.g. marketing, production, supply, and sales, and presenting results to management;
• analyzing market trends;
• assessing the viability of new design ideas and proposals in the current and predicted market and responding to national and local economic issues;
• planning work schedules: checking and coordinating timescales, resources, and production information for promotion and marketing.

What are some typical occupations for furniture designers?

• In-house designers in large manufacturing companies
• Design consultancy practices
• Retailers
• Interior/multidisciplinary design studios
• Architectural practices
• Private buyers
• RTA furniture Companies
• Hardware Designers
• Lighting and Accessories Designers
• Appraisers
• Furniture conservator/restorer
• Industrial/Product Designer
• Designer Instructor
• Showroom Sales
• CAD Operator

Sources of Vacancies:

• ASFD – American Society of Furniture Designers
• ASFD Directory of Designers
• Design Week
• Cabinet Maker
• Specialized recruiters. List in Career Services office
• Kendall on-line Job bulletin

Salary Ranges will depend on the size of the company, region, experience or if you open your own design firm or freelance Entry Level salaries are reporting in the low to mid 40’s

Where: Most graduates will find employment in North Carolina, New Jersey, Virginia, Mississippi, California and Wisconsin. 90% wood of furniture in American homes are designed by Kendall graduates.

Kendall Graduates have designed for:

• American of Martinsville
• Ashley
• Baker
• Bassett
• Bernhardt
• Broyhill
• Century
• Drexel Heritage
• Flexsteel
• Henredon
• Hickory Furniture
• Hooker Furniture
• Kindel Furntiure
• Keeler Brass
• Lane
• La-Z-Boy
• Lexington
• Minka Lighting
• Mitchell Gold
• Pillod
• Pulaski Furniture
• Stanley Furniture
• Value City
• Woodward

Resources

www.asfd.com American Society of Furniture Designers, Become a student Member!!! www.furnituretoday.com The weekly newspaper of the furniture Industry http://www.highpointmarket.org/ – High Point Market Authority- scoop on market dates, events

Get Involved

High Point Furniture Market. is important that Furniture Design student plans to attend the bi annual Furniture Market in High Point North Caroline sometime before they graduated. This is an important part of your FD education and the perfect venue to network with our alumni and other prospective employers for internships and future employment. The Kendall Alumni Office schedules an alumni reception for all FD alumni and current FD students to network. Our alumni are seeking good designers and hire from Kendall.

Get Involved

Join the Kendall Student Furniture Club

Become a student member of the the American Society of Furniture Designers