Furniture Designer and Builder

A furniture designer and builder may be self-employed, work for a small furniture manufacturing company or work for a large manufacturer. In most cases a furniture designer and builder will start with a concept for a new design of furniture or an improvement on an existing design. He or she is then able to use a variety of tools including lathes, various saws, carving tools, jointer and sanders to create a wooden frame. After the frame is completed the designer may have an upholster add cushions or backing to the wooden frame or it may stay as an elegant piece of wood furniture. Some furniture designers and builders work with other materials such as various metals, plastics, bamboo, rattan and even wicker.

Designing furniture takes creativity and originality as well as an ability to work with various tools to create just the item that was planned. Those furniture designers and builders that complete the whole project themselves will spend many hours in the crafting and building of the project depending on the size of the item. Since this can be a lengthy process the larger items tend to be custom made for specific clients. Some furniture designers and builders have showrooms with pre-made furniture while others work strictly on orders.

Furniture designers may or may not have formal design training. Most will have some training in woodworking skills including cabinet making, finishing carpentry or woodworking. There are several apprenticeship programs in these areas available and there are even national and international training opportunities. Some furniture designers and builder train in other countries to learn about using exotic woods and then incorporate these unique combinations in their furniture designs.

Common work activities include:

• Discussing ideas for furniture design with clients that are custom ordering a specific piece of furniture.
• Studying and researching various styles of furniture design, working with various types of wood and other products in the design.
• Attending workshops, seminars and training on various types of manufacturing and furniture design.
• Purchasing wood, equipment and other supplies and materials required.
• Pricing and fixing costs of various furniture items created.
• Using various tools to complete projects from raw materials to finished furniture item.

Programs related to Furniture Designer and Builder careers

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