88416 Furniture Production and Materials

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2020 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Design, Architecture and Building: Design
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Undergraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Description

This subject focuses on the development of the student's understanding of the design process as applied to furniture design. Students follow a methodology that includes concept generation through model making, design refinement and subsequently digital documentation and fabrication. Students are introduced to the environment of production through site visits. Lectures on developing structure, model making, ergonomics and production give the student an appreciation for design appropriateness and detailing. Students learn to produce accurate digital files for production of their furniture prototypes and finally assemble their own furniture designs with hand tools under supervision in the DAB workshop.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

1.	Gained the ability to use iterative prototyping as a research method in the furniture design process.
2.	Gained the fundamental understanding of how to create stable structures through application of theory and practice.
3.	Developed an original aesthetic sensibility in furniture design.
4.	Developed the ability to use industry specific analogue and digital skills in the creation of information for presentation and digital production.
5.	Gained the ability to apply ergonomic principles to furniture designs

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes to the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes:

• Effective visual communication skills (C.2)
• Effective tangible 3D representation (C.3)
• Demonstration of versatility, curiosity and imagination (I.2)
• Demonstration of aesthetic sensibility (I.3)
• Ability to propose, develop and rethink ideas (I.4)
• Industry specific practical and digital skills (P.1)
• Accuracy, rigour and care (P.2)

Teaching and learning strategies

Classes are in a lecture/tutorial format. Sessions will incorporate a range of active learning strategies such as conceptual model making, experimentation, mock-up constuction, critical discussion and site visits. These will be complemented by independent student engagement through projects focusing on research, concept development, iterative exploration and prototyping.

Content (topics)

This subject addresses the following issues and topics:

a) Properties of materials

b) Production & manufacturing processes

c) Connections and assembly techniques.

d) Production files and documentation.

e) Economic factors

f) Form, structure and ergonomics

g) Prototype construction

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Part A - Concept Phase

Intent:	Produce a furniture design concept through a process of iterative prototyping.
Objective(s):	This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 1, 2 and 5 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): I.2, I.3 and P.2
Type:	Project
Groupwork:	Individual
Weight:	40%
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Depth of exploration shown in the construction of your sketch model series 50 1 I.2 Degree of accuracy and stability achieved in the construction of your 1:1 scale mock-up 25 2 P.2 Degree of ergonomic and functional sensibility achieved in your 1:1 mockup 25 5 I.3 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Part B - Production Phase

Intent:	Progress a funiture design from concept level through to production as a finished prototype
Objective(s):	This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 3 and 4 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.3, I.3 and P.1
Type:	Project
Groupwork:	Individual
Weight:	40%
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Accuracy and appropriateness of your 2D/3D production files 25 4 P.1 Level of technical accuracy and stability evident in your finished prototype 25 4 C.3 Level of innovation evident in your finished prototype 25 3 I.3 Accuracy and convention evident in your GA Engineering Drawing 25 4 P.1 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Video Process journal

Intent:	Produce a 2 - 3 minute video process journal.
Objective(s):	This task addresses the following subject learning objectives: 3 and 4 This task also addresses the following course intended learning outcomes that are linked with a code to indicate one of the five CAPRI graduate attribute categories (e.g. C.1, A.3, P.4, etc.): C.2 and I.4
Type:	Journal
Groupwork:	Individual
Weight:	20%
Criteria linkages:	Criteria Weight (%) SLOs CILOs Depth of design process apparent through use of visual aids (sketches, models, photos, video footage) and narration 50 4 I.4 Level of skill and technique evident in the presentation and communication of ideas 50 3 C.2 SLOs: subject learning objectives CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Recommended texts

Böhm, F. KGID: Konstantin Grcic Industrial Design (Phaidon, London, 2005).

Jackson, P. Folding techniques for designers: from sheet to form (Laurence King Publishing, London 2011).

Jackson, P. Structural Packaging: Design your own boxes and 3D forms (Laurence King Publishing, London 2012).

Fiell, Charlotte & Peter, Chairs (Taschen, Italy, 2001).

Dreyfuss, H. The Measure of Man: Human factors in design (Whitney Library of Design, New York, 1967).

Pheasant, S. T. Ergonomics: Standards and Guidelines for Designers (British Standards Institution, Great Britain, 1987).

Thompson, R. Manufacturing processes for design professionals (Thames & Hudson, London 2007).

Lesko, Jim, Industrial Design-Materials and Manufacturing Guide (John Wiley & Sons, Canada, 1999).

Boundy, A. W. Engineering drawing (McGraw-Hill, Sydney 2011)