If you want a satisfying and stimulating career as a furniture designer or maker, this is the course for you. Our experience in the sector and our industry contacts are a result of 150 years of teaching high quality furniture courses and preparing graduates for employment.
There’s a strong emphasis on traditional and contemporary making skills across a range of techniques and materials, supported by drawing, technology, ethics and design learning. The teaching team includes international furniture and product designers, professional cabinet makers, CAD/CAM specialists, materials scientists, and upholstery and textiles experts.
During the course, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your knowledge and understanding whilst working on real-world creative briefs set by professional design bodies and there will be considerable emphasis on the professional presentation of project ideas. Recent live projects have included work with Heal’s, S .C.P, Emir and Hitch Mylius.
A range of year-long thematic studio options are available for Year 2 students. Studios contain design and realisation modules, and are an opportunity for you to work with staff and explore new ideas and stretch your imagination with experiment and discovery at the heart.
This course is bustling with creativity and energy with state-of-the-art digital and professionally equipped traditional workshops in which you can develop your practice. Life-long learning and professional development are encouraged with opportunities to join professional and trade associations. You’ll be considered for recognised industry prizes and awards each year with opportunities to enter designated professional competitions.
We have long established professional connections to trade bodies such as the Worshipful Companies of Furniture Makers and Upholders with their vast network of furniture industry connections, as well as Cass Works‚ digital manufacturing centre.
The Cass offers the only hands-on higher education courses in furniture in Greater London and our location means we have future clients, employers and commissioning agencies on your doorstep.
Assessment
You’ll be assessed via project work, essays, individual and group design practice, and a major final project and dissertation.
Portfolio advice
Your portfolio should be well edited but have enough work to show the range of your interests and talents. We’re interested in seeing how you develop a project from beginning to end, not only finished work.
Furniture makers work in both 2D and 3D, so bring examples of both. If you can’t bring some of your work to portfolio interview, please bring photographs.
For makers, we always want to see traditional drawing whether observational, life or concept generating, so even if you have good CAD skills already, do include this.
Finally, be ready to talk about your work and how you see your future as a furniture designer or maker.
All applicants must be able to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. Applicants who require a Tier 4 student visa may need to provide a Secure English Language Test (SELT) such as Academic IELTS. For more information about English qualifications please see our English language requirements.
What our students say
„I decided to return to higher education after running my decorating business for six years. I was looking to further develop my carpentry and design skills… there is a real emphasis on training in the workshops with both machines and hand tools. I believe a sound knowledge and understanding of how things can be manufactured is essential to good design.
„The workshops at London Met are amazing and it’s great to have access to the facilities and expertise in other subject areas. The work I produced on the course attracted a lot of attention from manufacturers and the press. Furthermore, the close proximity of Metropolitan Works and the opportunities it offers, including contact with practising designers and manufacturers, is an invaluable asset.”
Tom Price
After the course
This Furniture FdA prepares you to enter the furniture profession in a wide range of occupations within manufacture and design. Graduates successfully progress to careers designing or making furniture; working freelance, in small and medium size companies, in museums or in the modern industrial environment. Roles can be as diverse as buyers and technology and design journalists.
You can also progress to Year 3 of the Furniture and Product Design BA (Hons) course.
