This document discusses the role of a furniture designer. It begins by outlining considerations in furniture design such as sustainability, ergonomics, and aesthetic appeal. It then describes two types of furniture designers: commercial furniture designers who work for companies, and independent furniture designers who work as contractors. The design process is explained, including research, ideation, explanatory sketches, prototyping, and presentation. Key roles of the furniture designer include conceptualizing designs, creating drawings for clients and manufacturers, and ensuring designs are functional, innovative and meet client needs.

1. FURNITURE DESIGNER

2. Introduction
Considerations while designing
Types of furniture designers ( characteristics, roles and
responsibilities)
Design process
Conclusion

3. Product Design
Process to
create a new
product
Develop ideas
that lead to a
brand new
product

4. Product
Designer
Design most of
the things we
use in our day-
to-day lives
Improve the
way the
existing
product looks
and work and
produce at
lower
works on
specialist
products
Design entirely
new products

5. Furniture
designer
Creates and
designs interior
and exterior
furniture
Works with
professional
s
Keep track
of market
trend

6. CONSIDERATI
ON
Sustainability
Practicality and
functionality
Client style
preference
Balancing functional
requirements
Ergonomic design of
equipment and
furniture
Maintaining a safe
environment for
prospective
customers
Comfortability
Innovative design
and aesthetic
appeal

7. ERGONOMIC DESIGN
• Design of equipment
• Design is made in an attempt to increase
productivity and comfort, while reducing weariness
and pain
Figure 1

8. CONSIDERATI
ON
Sustainability
Practicality and
functionality
Client style
preference
Balancing functional
requirements
Ergonomic design of
equipment and
furniture
Maintaining a safe
environment for
prospective
customers
Comfortability
Innovative design
and aesthetic
appeal

9. v
FURNITURE
DESIGNER
Commercial furniture designer vIndependent furniture designer

10. COMMERCIA
L
FURNITURE
DESIGNER

11. IKEA aims to be a
responsible organisation.
It sells low-price home
furnishing products from
around the world
Figure 2
Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5

12. ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITI
ES
Employed
on a part
time/full time
basis
Aware of the
construction
process of their
designs
Create
furnishing or
fixture designs
based on certain
company
specifications
Working within a
larger corporate
community
Less likely to
build their
own designs
Not
responsible
for the
construction of
their designs
Aware of the
feasibility of
their designs

13. INDEPENDE
NT
FURNITURE
DESIGNER

14. http://www.curate-
home.com/leeward/john-
black.asp
Figure 6
• President of J.Black Design
• Studied at Kendall College of art
and design
• Greensboro/ Winston-salem, North
Carolina
Figure 7

15. ROLES AND
RESPONSIBILITI
ES
Working on
contract basis
Create
furnishing
and fixture
Work on commission
Allot of time for
self-promotion
or obtaining
patent
Carry out
tasks involved
running a
business
Compete with
other furniture
designers for
contract

16. IMPROVING EXISTING FURNITURE
• Improve and innovate existing products
design
• Finding solutions to produce more
efficient products

17. DEFINE RESEARCH
PRICING AND
CONTRACT
NEGOTIATION
FABRICATION
IDEATE
PRESENTATIO
N
(process sketch)
(ideation sketches -
>
explanatory
sketches)
DELIVERY

18. DEFINE

19. Clients establish
needs and
expectations
through a brief
Designers
get the idea
of what the
client wants
Design
options are
reviewed and
discussed
with clients to
define
direction
DEFINE
process
sketching

20. PROCESS
SKETCHING
• A stage of visualising the work
• An act of firming an idea
• Very likely to be drawn by a
pencil or fibre tip pen as the
designer explores possibilities
Figure 8

21. RESEAR
CH

22. RESEARCH
• To undestand the purpose and environment of the furniture
• Refer to internet, books and existing furnitures

23. IDEATE

24. IDEATE
• Brainstorm a range of ideas exploring aesthetics as well
as functional and mechanical aspects of the project
Ideation sketches Explanatory sketches
Refine drawing

25. IDEATION
SKETCHING
• also known as freehand sketches.
• Use to evolve the design ideas and study the
compositional aspect of the product

26. Figure 9
Figure 10
Figure 11

27. EXPLANATORY SKETCHING
• To explain function shape and structure of a
design concept (refined version of ideation
sketching) to the client

29. PRICING
AND
CONTRACT
NEGOTIATIO
N

30. FABRICATION
DRAWINGS ( construction
drawings )
• Given by designers to fabricators for pricing and fabrication
Jim Postell (1993). Furniture Design. Furniture Design Phases, 165

31. http://www.poharchitects.com/images/Interior_material_pi
c1.jpg
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http://www.ggi-myanmar.com/wood/axes.jpg
http://www.hughesfurniture.co.uk/care-home-furniture/images/specifications.jpg
Finish selection
Material selection
Grain direction of wood
Specification for quality
Figure 12
Figure 13
Figure 14
Figure 15

32. MEETING OUTCOMES
Both designers and fabricators are able to :
• Determine the cost
• Determine the time it will take to fabricate and install the proposed
work
• Determine the scope of work
• Establish the responsibilities of various individuals
• Outline a schedule for completing and installing the proposed work

33. PROTOTYPE

34. SHOP DRAWING
• A detailed construction and fabrication drawing that
shows the proposed material , shape and size ,
assembly of the parts and how the entire unit will be
installed
Lobby security desk
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Figure 16

35. PRESENTATI
ON

36. PRESENTATION
• To show designer’s commitment to finish through
the level of precision with which they present their
ideas

37. PERSUASIVE SKETCHES
• Detailed and colourful to influence audience
and sell a design concept

38. Figure 17

39. FABRICATI
ON

40. CONCLUSION
DRAWINGS ARE VERY IMPORTANT AS THEY
SERVE AS A COMMUNICATION TOOL USED IN
THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

41. REFERENCE
• http://www.ideationdesign.com.au/process.html
• http://www.hongkiat.com/blog/basic-guidelines-to-product-
sketching/
• http://www.onlinedesignteacher.com/interior_design/presen
tation_boards.html#.VdzgxvaqpBc
• https://www.pinterest.com/