Bachelor of Craft and Design - Furniture (PBCRDF) at Sheridan College

In Sheridan College Bachelor of Craft and Design - Furniture Studio program, design and making are interconnected. Students will gain real-world, hands-on experience designing and fabricating furniture pieces by incorporating an understanding of structure, function and aesthetics, creating beautiful and functional pieces. From the moment students begin, they will explore their creativity, develop and produce their ideas and test the limits of innovation.

Students learn not only how to design and make furniture, but also how it fits into society. Students will have the opportunity to work with real clients and build a solid portfolio to launch their career. Students will also have a chance to make a difference in marginalized communities – in design collaborations with users, students will will create furniture that meets their needs and builds their profession.

The successful completion of this program will enable the graduate to:

• Develop innovative solutions, appropriate to the target market.
• Plan and execute the creation of objects following a creative process of research, ideation, visualization, analysis, production and evaluation.
• Critically evaluate design decisions and develop defensible lines of argument that support those decisions.
• Explore the potential of materials and processes to develop unique and innovative objects.
• Develop a personal aesthetic that differentiates the work from that of their peers.
• Incorporate knowledge of contemporary and historical art and design theories, principles and historical practices in the conceptualization and development of studio work.
• Synthesize material from other academic disciplines in order to enrich and inform studio practice.
• Integrate appropriate research methodologies to sustain a professional practice.
• Engage in meaningful discourse regarding the larger social context of a craft or design practice.
• Integrate the principles of visual language and design in the development of studio work.
• Produce innovative objects that reflect a critical understanding of contemporary art, craft and design issues.
• Create work for a variety of social and cultural contexts such as speculative work for galleries, client-driven commissions, trade shows, and varied levels of production.
• Exhibit self-direction in project conceptualization and realization.
• Participate effectively in the critique process, both in giving and receiving feedback.
• Work collaboratively and respectfully in multidisciplinary teams, taking on a leadership role as needed.
• Integrate knowledge of ethical and legal frameworks with effective business practices in dealing with clients, colleagues, suppliers and employers.
• Apply project management principles and workflow processes to plan, deliver and evaluate projects.
• Incorporate a variety of networking, financial, marketing and promotional skills in order to build and sustain a professional practice.
• Create a business plan to support the development of a professional practice.
• Evaluate outsourcing opportunities where applicable to the fabrication of work.
• Apply a variety of technologies and materials and studio-specific processes to the creation of studio work.
• Use photography and digital image manipulation as a means for documentation and promotion of studio work.
• Use two and three dimensional design software in the development of studio work.
• Implement ergonomic principles and health and safety standards in the studio environment.
• Exhibit behaviour respectful of the studio environment and the academic community.