A unique and comprehensive resource for student and professional furniture designers, providing in-depth answers to their questions about aesthetics, function, materials, manufacturing and sustainability. In this second edition Stuart Lawson emphasizes the principles of a circular economy and what this means for furniture design and consumption. He considers the latest technological developments such as 3-D printing and the use of innovative materials such as bioplastics. He also examines the capabilities and potential of CAD-based design optimization, AI and machine learning-driven generative design processes. The book features case studies on pioneering, contemporary and historical designers and includes an illustrated directory of materials and manufacturing processes.

The comprehensive guide to furniture design— expanded and updated Furniture designers draw on a range of knowledge and disciplines to create their work. From history to theory to technology, Furniture Design offers a comprehensive survey of the essential craft- and practice-related aspects of furniture design. Generously illustrated with photographs and drawings—including a new color section—this Second Edition features updated coverage of material specifications, green design, digital design, and fabrication technologies. It also features twenty-five case studies of furniture design that represent a broad selection of works, designers, and techniques, including recent designs produced within the last decade. The book explores: Furniture function and social use Form, spatial organization, and typological orders Structural integrity and composition Accessibility, universal design, human factors, and ergonomics The design process, from schematics through fabrication Materials, processes, and methods of fabrication Professional practice and marketing The history of furniture design, from prehistory to the digital age Complete with a glossary of terms and a comprehensive bibliography, Furniture Design, Second Edition is a one-stop resource that furniture designers will turn to regularly for the advice, guidance, and information needed to perform their craft.

Artwork by Edward Cooke Jr.

Furniture Design is a comprehensive guide and resource for students and furniture designers. As well as discussing pioneering contemporary and historical designs, it also provides substantive answers to designers’ questions about function, materials, manufacture and sustainability, integrating guidance on all of these subjects – particularly material and manufacturing properties, in one accessible and structured volume. Many leading contemporary furniture designers from around the world are included, with case studies carefully selected to highlight the importance of both material and manufacture-led design processes. The book is also intended to provide an insight into furniture design for those considering a university education in product and industrial design.

Publisher description

The author measured original Stickley furniture pieces to create these detailed plans, not available from any other source. The author is a Master Cabinet Maker and Executive Editor at Popular Woodworking Magazine. Intermediate woodworkers can use these plans to build authentic replicas of valuable period pieces at low cost. The ongoing renaissance of the Craftsman style has already lasted longer than the original period, and is here to stay. Furniture making is part of the fastest growing category -- "woodcrafts" -- in the $31 billion craft industry.

Publisher Description

For courses in the history of interiors, history of furniture, and furniture design and construction. This image-rich text introduces significant movements in the evolution of the decorative arts, including furniture, design motifs, and accessories related to interior design and architectural settings from the Neolithic Age to the 21st century. It augments the study of art and architectural history by discussing the function and aesthetic purpose of furniture, pottery, glassware, lighting, textiles, mirrors, metalworking, clocks, and wallcoverings; as well as their integration into interior design. The author presents crucial contextual information on political and social events and the technological advances that influenced each period's design trends, and compares objects from different periods, demonstrating how ideas and concepts progress through their stylistic development. Descriptions of period room settings show how the decorative arts complement architecture and interior design. Valuable websites and bibliographic information are provided for further exploration, and a glossary highlights key vocabulary.

Design advice from Fine Woodworking. Written by the country's most respected designers and builders, each article is packed with practical, down-to-earth advice and toughtful insights into the design process.The furniture types include tables, casework, cabinets and chairs, plus a selection of special-purpose furniture.