Furniture Design Course Descriptions

FURN 111 Technical Drawing and Visualization for Furniture Design
This course introduces students to the basic conventions and skills of technical drawing and presentation. Students acquire basic literacy in hand graphic skills as well as electronic 2-D visualization tools. Prerequisite: DSGN 102.

FURN 120 Survey of Furniture Design
The course gives the students an understanding of specific design proponents, movements and historical trajectories relevant to furniture design in a manner that informs and complements their design process. The course draws upon the historical lineage and identifies the predominant civilizations throughout history and the contribution they have made to furniture design. Specific emphasis is placed on theoretical and ideological developments surrounding that age or era in which such developments occurred and study is focused placed on the effects of such historical events, shifts and consequences. Prerequisite: ENGL 123.

FURN 200 Materials and Techniques
This course focuses on the integration of design and fabrication skills necessary to complete an original project. The course covers the properties and working characteristics of hand tool use, joinery techniques and safe machine operations in the manipulation of wood. Prerequisite: DSGN 102.

FURN 201 Design Studio: Introduction to Furniture
This course introduces students to the field of furniture design and the design process. Through lectures, class discussions, and exercises students develop and apply creative problem-solving skills as well as formulate, communicate, and present a sound basis for their ideas. Prerequisites: FURN 111 or FURN 232.

FURN 215 Furniture Practices: Laminated Form
In this course, students synthesize their design and fabrication skills. The course explores the conceptual, aesthetic, and structural issues involved with the design and construction of a project utilizing lamination techniques. Prerequisites: FURN 111, FURN 200.

FURN 232 Rendering and Presentation for Furniture Design
In this course, students develop the drawing skills and 2-D presentation techniques used to convey design ideas required in the furniture design profession. Prerequisite: DSGN 102 or DRAW 230.

FURN 235 Design Studio: Applied Universal Design
Through lectures, readings, discussions, and exercises, students explore universal design as an integrated process. Students examine the sphere of human activity and its impact on design. The synthesis of contextual research, user needs, technical and functional requirements in the design development is stressed. Students develop and execute design solutions based on the fundamental principles of universal design. Prerequisites: FURN 120, FURN 201.

FURN 300 Furniture Practices: Case Goods
Through lectures, demonstrations and critiques, students move into a high level of design and construction methodology. Advanced furniture construction techniques are introduced and applied toward the design and fabrication of a cabinet with a door and a drawer. Prerequisite: FURN 215.

FURN 301 Furniture Practices: Metal
This course explores the material and fabrication properties of metals. Metal manipulation, machine safety, and proper use of hand tools, metal identification and cold assembly techniques are discussed. Students design and fabricate projects integrating the information and techniques covered. Prerequisite: DSGN 102.

FURN 305 Furniture Practices: Seating Design
This course explores the complex process of seating design and addresses issues of comfort, aesthetics and structure, in addition to the contextual and social elements of seating design. The use of models and full-scale mock-ups is instrumental as students develop and execute their designs. Prerequisites: FURN 235, FURN 300.

FURN 308 Design Studio: Electronic Furniture Design
Through this course students become proficient in industry-standard modeling software applications, and how they allow for quick, accurate, and transformable visualization of designs to provide a tool to facilitate communication between designer, engineer, and client. Prerequisite: FURN 111 or FURN 232.

FURN 320 Accessories for Living
This course explores design, construction and packaging issues associated with the production of accessories for the living environment. Students design, develop and fabricate a product with a focus on efficient production strategies and appropriate integration of assembly processes, including the potential use of various rapid prototyping technologies. Prerequisite: FURN 215 or IDUS 321 or MTJW 360.

FURN 330 Exploration in Soft Furnishings
Through a series of lectures, demonstrations, assignments and projects, students gain knowledge and experience with the materials, equipment, and techniques involved in the production of soft furnishings for a variety of functional and aesthetic purposes. The students are exposed to sewing technology, pattern making, structural design, and upholstery techniques which provide the parameters for students to conceptualize, explore, design and produce a full scale prototype. Prerequisite: FURN 200.

FURN 333 Furniture Practices: Welding
This course introduces the theory and technique required to perform welding and joining operations on various common metal alloys. Students develop a working knowledge of specific alloys and their relevance to furniture design and manufacturing industry standards. Prerequisite: FURN 301.

FURN 334 Furniture Practices: Plastics
This course is an introduction to plastics as a material for design and manufacture. Through lectures, demonstrations, and small-scale exercises and projects, students become familiar with the vocabulary of plastics and plastics design. The course covers basic design principles, design protocols, key manufacturing processes and fabrication techniques specific to designing for plastics. Prerequisite: FURN 301 or IDUS 212.

FURN 370 Site-specific Furniture Design
Through a series of studio work, lecture, demonstrations, assignments and field trips, students examine the role of furniture within the context of its surroundings, its intended function, and its relationship to the environment. Students then apply that knowledge, along with appropriate tools and technology, to develop and implement site-specific furniture. Prerequisite: ARCH 300 or FURN 201 or IDUS 250 or INDS 210.

FURN 372 Furniture and Spatial Composition
Understanding the composition and quality of spaces in which humans work, interact, play, live and utilize their furniture is the basis of this course. Lectures, exercises and cases studies provide students an appreciation of the complexities and nuances of the built environment towards a more meaningful and responsible furniture design process. Prerequisite: ARCH 101 or FURN 201 or IDUS 200 or INDS 110.

FURN 375 Furniture Design Merchandising Principles
Through a series of lectures and seminars, the course enables students to identify, challenge and explore new concepts and design competencies within the parameters of markets and opportunities. The course also addresses trends and forecasting, patterns of domestic competition, practices in international import and export, packaging and transport of products. Students are exposed to case studies covering customer buying systems and hierarchies of needs, behavioral tendencies and cultural diversities, price determinants and market cost factors. Prerequisite: FIBR 201 or FURN 201 or IDUS 250 or INDS 210 or MTJW 255.

FURN 390 Concept and Context for Furniture Design
This course focuses on advanced presentation techniques using creative problem solving, concept building, visualization, and research. Through lectures, discussions and exercises, students develop, document, and present design professional quality project materials that broaden their portfolios. Prerequisite: FURN 232 or permission of the department chair.

FURN 410 Furniture Design Senior Project I
While applying their accumulated experience, knowledge, and skills in a directed design project, students demonstrate their command of the design process, process documentation, and presentation in the execution of the project. Prerequisites: FURN 305, FURN 308.

FURN 415 Professional Practices in Furniture Design
This course prepares students to enter the career field of furniture design. Topics include developing professional contacts, interviewing skills, portfolios and refined resumes. Prerequisite: FURN 410.

FURN 425 Furniture Design Senior Project II
This course provides the student the opportunity to propose and manage a faculty approved self-initiated design project with appropriate focus, inquiry, documentation, execution, and presentation. Prerequisite: FURN 410.

FURN 499 Special Topics in Furniture Design
The topic of this course varies from quarter to quarter. Each seminar focuses on various issues in the field of furniture design and allows students to pursue individual projects related to the subject of the course. Prerequisites: Vary according to topic.

FURN 708 3-D Computer-aided Design for Furniture
Through this course, students become proficient in industry-standard modeling software applications, and how they allow for quick, accurate, and transformable visualization of designs as a tool to facilitate communication between designer, engineer, and client.

FURN 710 Issues in Furniture Design
Through a series of lectures and discussions, students establish systematic methods of concept development and market analysis. The understanding and use of these tools as they relate to current issues and trends in furniture design become the framework in which, as professional designers, students can successfully develop design briefs and tackle industry problems.

FURN 718 Furniture Studio I: Conceptual Studies
Through a series of proposals and design briefs, students exercise their conceptual skills in solving complex, open-ended design problems that challenge their imaginative capabilities. By developing an awareness of the higher-order of cognitive processes and connecting to their individual creative spark, students are encouraged to enhance their potential to substantially contribute to the field of Furniture Design.

FURN 732 Evolution of Furniture Design
Presented in a manner that informs and complements their design intentions, innovative interventions, and creative intelligence, this course provides students an understanding of major design proponents, movements and historical trajectories relevant to furniture design. The course draws upon the historical lineage of furniture design and identifies the predominant breakthroughs, materials and techniques throughout history, with specific emphasis on theoretical and ideological developments and the effects of such historical events.

FURN 738 Furniture Studio II: Contextual Studies
The focus of this course is to identify and respond to design problems through an investigation of either a predetermined or a proposed context. Student develop comprehensive documentation of sources, analysis, and synthesis that supports the intended design solution and demonstrate an understanding of material, functional and aesthetic requirements in the execution of the course project. Prerequisite: FURN 718.

FURN 742 Directed Research in Furniture Design
As the result of extensive research, students demonstrate the ability to pursue an inclusive concept development process, including the core components of research methodology, analysis, and material integration. The process culminates in a written statement for presentation to the MFA 45-hour review and a narrative draft to accompany a body of work. Prerequisite: FURN 738.

FURN 748 Furniture Studio III: Material Investigations
The focus of this course is to conduct research on new information and develop new usage of emerging materials. The information gleaned from research is used in the presentation and execution of a viable design solution. Prerequisite: FURN 738.

FURN 749 Furniture Design M.A. Final Project
All M.A. students in furniture design are required to complete a final portfolio project that represents the culmination of their academic program. Prerequisite: FURN 740.

FURN 754 Directed Studies I
Application of learned research methodologies and demonstration of in-depth knowledge on furniture design form the basis for this course. Students undertake the first phase of the intended body of work for their graduate project leading to fully realized forms and the accompanying support documentation. Prerequisite: FURN 742.

FURN 760 Experimental Metal Fabrication
This course teaches advanced procedures in the exploration of metal manipulation, machine safety and fabrication. Proper use of hand tools, metal identification and cold assembly techniques are addressed.

FURN 762 Experimental Wood Fabrication
This course is an intensive learning exploration centered on woodworking techniques where the ideation process and fabrication method examines the intrinsic properties of wood and the challenges extended by the variety of wood-working tools and machines. Students enrolled in the program develop research and critical thinking skills, learn the effective use of visual and verbal presentation medium, and understand the integration of concept, human dimension requirements, technical considerations and necessary safety procedures in fabrication.

FURN 764 Directed Studies II
Evaluation, refinement and focus of the topic investigation provide opportunities for the student to build on the first phase of the graduate thesis project. Deeper analysis, investigation and understanding are reflected in the execution, presentation and documentation of the second phase of the graduate project and exhibit planning. Prerequisite: FURN 754.

FURN 767 Furniture Design Merchandising
Through a series of lectures and seminars, the course enables students to identify, challenge and explore new concepts and design competencies within the parameters of markets and opportunities. The course addresses trends and forecasting, patterns of domestic competition, practices in international import and export, packaging and transport of products. Students are exposed to case studies covering customer buying systems and hierarchies of needs, behavioral tendencies and cultural diversities, price determinants and market cost factors.

FURN 768 Visual Communication for Furniture Design
This course equips students with the skills to conceptualize and communicate ideas and design intentions through drawing and effective visual communication tools. Students are introduced to a range of drawing and visual presentation techniques through studio-based exercises.

FURN 769 Soft Furnishings
Students acquire knowledge of sewing technology, pattern making, structural design, and upholstery techniques, and conceptualize, develop, design and execute a soft furnishing ensemble constructed from available and alternative materials applicable to varied aesthetic and functional purpose.

FURN 770 Professional Practices in Furniture Design
In this course, students prepare to enter their career field. Topics include developing professional contacts, interviewing skills, portfolio and refined r??sum??s. Graduate students develop a comprehensive package to prepare for employment, based on improved skill sets and capabilities. In-class learning is augmented by visiting furniture manufacture and design facilities in the area.

FURN 790 Furniture Design M.F.A. Thesis
All furniture design M.F.A. students are required to develop and prepare an exhibition of an original, cohesive body of work. Students must showcase four to six pieces supported by a written component.