Furniture Designers Job Description: Tasks, Required Skills, Education, Career Outlook and Salary
Submitted by: Cheska Davenport
Job Overview: Furniture designers are persons who work on designs and concepts in building furnishings such as tables and chairs, couches and sofas. They usually work with their clients in order to get their exact preferences on the furniture they want to own, as well as the kind of product and materials to be used. They may also work for companies which specialize in building furniture, or for design firms contracted by furniture manufacturers. They usually spend time in their offices or studios working on their designs and blueprints, but sometimes they go out to meet clients to discuss the products for them to design.
Education, Knowledge and Training Required: To become a successful furniture designer, one should have a background in designing interiors, thus the recommended programs for people who wish to take part in this industry include interior design, structural design, and architecture. They may also take up technical courses which focus on industrial design, so that they will learn about the fundamentals of two-dimensional and three-dimensional design. Studio classes provide hands-on training on wood, hand and power tools, upholstery techniques, metal fabrication and molding plastics.
Skills and Abilities: Aspiring furniture designers should be artistic and creative, and they must be able to see their work in three dimensions. They need to have the vision, and as well as see innovations for their work in progress. They should also be open enough to consider the preferences of their clients, and as well as work with a team. They need to be tough-minded to accept the criticisms of their designs, and be capable of expressing their ideas clearly and properly.
Tasks: The duties and responsibilities of furniture designers cover a lot of aspects. They start by drawing sketches of their designs on paper, and have them reviewed by clients or their supervisors for corrections and alterations.
They will later build scale models of their designs using actual materials, as well as prototypes for their clients to examine. Once the prototypes are approved, they enter production, which will then require the services of carpenters, upholsterers and factory workers in case of mass-produced orders. They also work on drawing boards and make technical drawings and CAD software to come up with graphic illustrations of their ideas. They should be able to consider the not just the aesthetic value, but also the form, style and functionality of their pieces, as well as the places where the furniture will be situated. They are also in charge of selecting the materials, tools and other accessories to be used in the production of the furniture they designed. There are also times when designers supervise carpenters and upholsterers in order to properly fit the furnishings based on their design concepts.
Earnings and Job Outlook: There is a steady demand for furniture designers at present, and they receive an average salary of $51,200 per year. Furniture designers who gain a steady clientele and reputation in the design industry tend to earn higher. Benefits for furniture designers usually include health insurance, vacation leaves and sick leaves depending on the company they work for.
Cheska Davenport is a career search strategist who focuses on creating power resumes and providing job search advice that aim to help individuals achieve their target goals in the job market.
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Word Count: 536 Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2010 Time: 5:01 AM
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