聚光灯
设计工程师、设计师、工业设计师、机械设计师、模具设计师、产品设计工程师、产品设计师、产品开发工程师、标识设计师
Are you reading this while sitting on a chair or sofa? If so, take a second to think about where that piece of furniture came from!
At some point, someone designed that product you’re sitting on. In fact, somebody designed every piece of furniture you’ve ever seen or used. Most of us never think about Furniture Designers–but without them, we’d have no chairs, sofas, tables, cabinets, bookshelves, beds, outdoor furniture, office furnishings, or similar items.
Furniture Designers create and develop functional furniture pieces that are practical and visually appealing. They research trends, sketch designs, select materials, and oversee manufacturing to ensure final products meet intended designs. They might start with a conceptual sketch of a chair, create a digital 3D model, and then work with craftsmen to choose suitable materials and production techniques. During the design stage, they consider variables such as ergonomics, space efficiency, and style.
Though their efforts are rarely recognized by the public, Furniture Designers contribute significantly to our interior spaces and make our lives much easier!
- Expressing creativity through functional products
- Seeing product designs be used in everyday settings
- Opportunities to work with various materials and techniques
工作日程
Furniture Designers may work full-time or part-time in design studios, workshops, or manufacturing facilities. They must frequently collaborate with clients and other design professionals.
典型职责
- Research and analyze trends in furniture design, materials, and manufacturers
- Conduct market research to identify opportunities for new product lines and design improvements
- Create custom furniture designs tailored to specific spaces and unique client needs
- Create concept sketches for original designs
- Select appropriate materials, finishes, and colors
- Calculate material, labor, and production costs to develop pricing strategies
- Develop concepts further using furniture design software and CAD tools (such as AutoCAD, SketchUp, or SolidWorks) to produce 2D and 3D models featuring dimensions and other specifications
- Review designs with stakeholders
- Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to ensure design concepts align with market demands
- Work with craftsmen and manufacturers to develop prototypes.
Provide detailed assembly instructions and material lists - Ensure prototypes meet specifications, as well as safety, ergonomic, and quality standards
- Oversee the production process of approved designs. Perform quality control checks on finished products
- Present and market designs to potential clients and retailers
额外责任
- Stay updated with industry trends and new materials
- Integrate sustainable practices and eco-friendly materials into design processes
- Engage in continuous learning to refine design and technical skills
- Negotiate with suppliers for high-quality materials and competitive pricing
- Provide after-sales support, including product care, maintenance, and repair guidance
- Attend trade shows and exhibitions
- Maintain a portfolio of work to attract new clients and opportunities
软技能
- 艺术性
- 注重细节
- Client relations
- 沟通技巧
- 以消费者为中心
- 创意
- 演绎性推理
- 组织能力
- 耐心
- 解决问题
- 聪明才智
- 团队合作
- 时间管理
技术技能
- Ergonomics, functionality, and user experience in furniture design
- 熟悉与之相关的软件。
- 分析
- 计算机辅助设计
- 计算机辅助制造
- 开发环境
- 财务分析
- 图形
- Materials, manufacturing processes, and construction techniques
- Problem-solving frameworks and lean product management
- 项目管理
- Technical drawing and modeling skills
- 建筑公司
- Custom furniture workshops
- Freelance or independent design studios
- Furniture manufacturing companies
- Interior design firms
- 零售店
- 批发贸易
Furniture must be visually pleasing, ergonomic, and durable because it gets used over and over, sometimes by multiple people. Thus, consumers expect companies to produce goods that will last.
Designers use a human-centered approach that puts consumer safety and needs first. In addition, they’re involved with quality assurance so products meet standards and are tested before hitting the market.
Meanwhile, furniture manufacturers are interested in keeping costs down, so designers must take this into account, too. The role requires balancing creativity with practicality, as well as managing time and budgets effectively.
Sustainability is a long-running trend in furniture design, with demand increasing for eco-friendly materials and production methods. Designers are also integrating smart features into many furniture products, blending functionality with technology to enhance user experience. Minimalism continues to be a popular aesthetic, so designers may frequently focus on clean lines, simplicity, and versatility.
Furniture Designers often have a passion for hands-on activities from a young age. They might have enjoyed drawing, building models, and woodworking.
- There are no formal educational requirements to enter this career field, but Furniture Designers typically complete a relevant certificate program, vocational school training, an associate degree, or a bachelor’s degree in industrial design, furniture design, or a related field
- Common courses might include:
- Applied Techniques
- CAD and Digital Modeling
- Concept to Object
- Design History and Principles
- Drawing Furniture 2D and 3D
- 人体工学
- Furniture Final Project
- Industrial Design
- Introduction to Furniture
- 制造工艺
- 材料科学
- Metals for Furniture Design
- Professional Practice and Portfolio
- Textiles
- Students should try to get as much hands-on practice as possible, through internships, apprenticeships, part-time jobs, volunteer work, or at-home practice
- Furniture Designers should also participate in continual learning through extra classes, workshops, and other events.
Check out local trade school catalogs and organizations like The Furniture Society and Industrial Designers Society of America for opportunities - Certification in programs like Autodesk AutoCAD or Rhino 3D can be very helpful for standing out
- Other useful programs to learn may include:
- CAD Pro
- eCabinet Systems
- Foyr Neo
- Fusion 360
- PRO100
- Rockler SketchList 3D Furniture Design Software
- SketchUp
- SmartDraw
- SOLIDWORKS
- Sweet Home 3D
- Vectorworks
- Wood Designer
- Woodwork for Inventor
- Compare tuition and other costs to be certain you’re getting the best value for your money.
- Think about the pros and cons of online versus on-campus learning. In some cases, a hybrid program might be most suitable so you can get hands-on practice.
- Read college program faculty bios to learn about their backgrounds and prior work.
- Look for programs that have internships with local manufacturers and design firms.
- Take plenty of classes in art, sculpture, graphic design, business, math, physics, drafting/computer-aided drafting, and woodwork or metalwork
- Study past and present furniture styles and think of ways you might alter or improve products
- Always keep ergonomics in mind, since most furniture must be functional and practical
- Sketch your ideas in notebooks or tablets for later reference and inspiration
- Read books, magazines (like Furniture World), and blogs about furniture and product design
- Watch video tutorials or sign up for ad hoc classes on sites like Udemy or Coursera
- Learn about the different types of furniture products out there, like chairs, sofas, cabinets, tables, dressers, desks, bookshelves, etc.
- 与产品设计相关的软件和数字技术的工作实践
- Work on your portfolio so you can show off your talents to potential employers
- Make connections when doing internships
- Stay informed about contemporary design trends and techniques
- Network with professionals in the industry and seek mentorship.
- Search for job openings on employment portals like Indeed and ZipRecruiter
- Read posts carefully. Take note of any skills/experience gaps so you can work on those, if needed
- Write down keywords to add to your resume, such as:
- 3D Modeling
- CAD Software
- Creative Conceptualization
- 人体工学
- 制造工艺
- Market Trends Analysis
- Materials Knowledge
- Product Development
- Prototyping
- Sustainable Design
- Check out Furniture Designer resume templates for ideas
- 咨询你学校的就业中心,以获得撰写简历、练习面试技巧以及与招聘人员联系的帮助。
- 联系以前的主管和教授,询问他们是否愿意作为个人推荐人。
- 让你的在线作品集经过打磨,充满高质量的照片和描述性细节,展示你的视觉和互动设计技能和创造力
- Participate in design competitions and exhibitions to showcase your work
- Expect to start as an intern or assistant designer
- Turn in product designs that are feasible and profitable
- Stay within budgets and timeframes
- Stay open to constructive criticism
- Be a team player who collaborates well with others
- Demonstrate leadership skills and take on additional responsibilities
- Stay on top of furniture design trends (see our list of Recommended Resources)
- Knock out additional training and certifications to hone your skills or learn new ones
- Consider completing a master’s degree program. Like the Rhode Island School of Design’s Master of Fine Arts in Furniture Design
- Stay in touch with your network and keep an eye out for opportunities
- Participate in trade shows, design exhibitions, and professional organization events
- Continue to develop your online presence to show off your work
- Move to where the most jobs are. Per BLS, the states with the highest employment for commercial and industrial designers are California, New York, Michigan, Florida, and Ohio
网站
- 美国图形艺术协会
- Architonic
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Autodesk Fusion
- CAD Pro
- Core77
- Designboom
- Design Milk
- Dezeen
- Domus
- Dwell
- eCabinet Systems
- Foyr Neo
- Furniture Today
- Houzz
- 人为因素和工效学协会
- 美国工业设计师协会
- Inhabitat
- 交互设计协会
- Interior Design Magazine
- InteriorZine
- Material ConneXion
- PRO100
- 产品开发与管理协会
- Rhino 3D
- Rockler SketchList 3D
- SketchUp
- SmartDraw
- SOLIDWORKS
- Sweet Home 3D
- The Design Edit
- The Furniture Society
- Vectorworks
- Wood Designer
- Woodwork for Inventor
- 世界设计组织
- Yanko Design
书籍
- Atlas of Furniture Design, by Mateo Kries, et. al.
- Furniture Design, by Jim Postell
- Furniture Design: An Introduction to Development, Materials and Manufacturing, by Stuart Lawson
- The COMPLETE BOOK of Product Design, Development, Manufacturing, and Sales, by Steven Selikoff
- The Furniture Bible: Everything You Need to Know to Identify, Restore & Care for Furniture, by Christophe Pourny
- Woodworker’s Guide To Furniture Design, by Garth Graves
Furniture design can be a rewarding field, but workers don’t always get public recognition for their creative efforts. If you’re curious about related careers, check out our list below!
- 建筑师
- 艺术总监
- CAD 技术员
- Design Consultant
- 绘图员
- 时尚设计师
- 平面设计师
- 工业设计师
- 室内设计师
- Set Designer
- 软件开发人员
- Sports Product Designer
- 视觉效果(VFX)艺术家
- 木工