Furniture Design

This unit aims to explore the principals of design and design methodologies associated with the furniture manufacturing industry. The unit will focus on creative thinking, design for production, human factors and developing concepts for a specific target market. It will provide students with an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills required for the communication of design ideas using a variety of both physical and digital mediums and further develop professional project management skills.
Students will gain knowledge of furniture design, ergonomics, component manufacture, assembly methodologies, material and process specification and project management.

At the completion of this unit students should be able to:
Explore and evaluate the work of prominent furniture designers and be able to relate ‘classic’ furniture to milestones in design movements and advances in materials and technology;
Explore market sectors and environments with a view to innovation in furniture design;
Articulate and apply issues relating to human factors and ergonomics in the context of practicality and usability;
Undertake creative furniture development and design refinement using sketching, 2D and 3D CAD, digital visualization and sketch modeling.
Design a piece of furniture that meets the needs of the intended user, environment or market sector;
Use industry standard design processes for manufacture and materials.

A variety of delivery modes will be used for HD3D002, which may include:
* Lectures, tutorials and in-class demonstrations to support project outcomes
* Museum and industrial sites, as required
* Mock-up development techniques
* Studios and workshops
* Web-based resources.

NOTE: Percentage weightings are indicative. See Unit Briefs for full assessment details.
The Workshop health and safety training program (Design workshop) is a hurdle and a compulsory assessable requirement for this unit. Students must present proof of certification to their unit of study lecturer by week 5 in order to successfully complete the unit outcomes. Students who fail to complete this requirement will be considered to be At Risk and should notify their program coordinator immediately. For information about undertaking the Design Workshop, please contact the Workshop manager, x 6110 Room PJ103 or speak to your Program Coordinator.
Assessment will be based on two projects and the design studio exercises.

Project 1: Furniture Design History (15%)
Project 2: Project (75%)
Studio exercises (10%)

 

Swinburne University works to produce higher education graduates who are capable in their chosen profession.  Learners bring to Swinburne a diverse wealth of experiences and graduate with individual understandings, abilities and attitudes.

Within this context, Furniture Design HD3D002 aims to provide students with the following attributes:

Topics for discussion will vary according to student projects, but will broadly include:
Specific market sectors in furniture design;
History of furniture design;
Processes of design and manufacture for furniture;
Innovative product development strategies.

Throughout the unit, students will engage in project-based learning activities that may include:
Individual project development
Group-based in-class esquisses (exercises)
Critical reviews
Self-directed research

Design Studio is a working environment – students will be expected to attend for the scheduled duration of the class and use the time productively to further their designs. Students are expected to prepare and have “work in progress” available at all classes for critiques and discussions.