Diploma in Fine Furniture

Note: As a subsidiary of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, UCOL Te Pūkenga is committed to providing the best learning outcome for you. As part of this, all programmes are currently being reviewed to make them portable, consistent, and closely aligned with the needs of the industry. When published, this course information is correct, but the courses offered may change over time. If you have any questions call an Enrolment Advisor on 0800 468 265.

From 2023, UCOL Te Pūkenga and the programme you have enrolled in will become part of Te Pūkenga. So, if you join UCOL Te Pūkenga in 2023, you will be awarded Te Pūkenga certification. And, if you are a current learner graduating in 2023, you will be awarded a co-branded certificate.

This programme comprises of three qualifications. You must study these in order as follows:

• New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Furniture Design & Making) (Level 4) (60 Credits)
• New Zealand Certificate in Creativity (Furniture Design & Making) (Level 4) (60 Credits)
• New Zealand Diploma in Creativity (Furniture Design) (Level 5) (120 Credits)

Art/Design History (15 Credits)
Gain an introduction to national and international art/design practice including key historical principles, contexts and conventions related to furniture design.

Creative Practice (30 Credits)
Develop technical and conceptual creative skills through the selection and application of tools, techniques and processes appropriate to a directed art/design brief. The course will cover:

• Creative processes, ideation and implementation 
• Joint making, tool making, furniture making
• Composition, shape, lighting
  
• Single form ideas
• Drawing from the model
• Thumbnails and conceptual development
• Critiquing
• Multimedia creative processes
• Safety – techniques, equipment
• Workshop health and safety
• Timber – kinds, uses, selection
• Hand tools – uses, techniques
• Portable and fixed machinery – uses, techniques
• Components – joints and their qualities
• Creating a workshop visual diary
• Workshop Health and Safety 
• First Aid

Visual Arts Studio (15 Credits)
Gain knowledge and experience of working in two and three-dimensional forms and, through a variety of visual arts mediums, explore physical, and conceptual space. The course will cover

• Technical construction: a range of drawing approaches, including, but not limited to; orthogonal, auxiliary, pictorial and geometric construction
• Sketching – 2D, 3D and rendering
• Mannequin – scale and proportions

New Zealand Certificate in Creativity (Furniture Design and Making)

Visual Communications (15 Credits)
Explore new ways of thinking, visualising and communicating, and developing students’ skills presenting in two and three-dimensional forms. The course will cover:

• Furniture design – research, ideation, scale models
• Sketching – 2D, 3D, line, texture, composition, rendering, colour
• Orthogonal drawing – layout, scale, title blocks, borders, dimensions, sections, line work, auxiliary views, 3rd angle
• Pictorial – isometric, oblique, isometric circles, 2 point perspective
• Geometric construction – polygons, ellipses, tangent points, compass work
• Mannequin – scale and proportions
• Computer Aided Drawing (CAD)

Creative Practice (30 Credits)
Gain technical and conceptual skills in furniture design. The course will cover:

• Creative processes, ideation and implementation
• Joint making, tool making, furniture making
• Composition, shape, lighting
• Single form ideas
• Drawing from the model
• Thumbnails and conceptual development
• Critiquing
• Multimedia creative processes
• Plan and construct furniture items
• Identify the steps of the design process
• Safety – techniques, equipment, OSH legislation
• Timber – kinds (exotic, indigenous) uses, conversion, qualities, selection
• Hand tools – uses, techniques, care and maintenance
• Portable and fixed machinery – uses, techniques
• Components – joints and their qualities, construction techniques, hardware variety and usage
• Finishes, restoration, abrasives
• Calculations and costings for timber

Creative Theory (15 Credits)
Collaborate with classmates to examine the role of creativity to change or improve outcomes in furniture design and making. Consider transferrable creativity skills in relation to career options and self, including time and working space management and engaging with others.

New Zealand Diploma in Creativity (Furniture Design and Making)

Visual Arts (15 Credits)
Develop effective drawing techniques as a specialized form of visual communication while working with a variety of visual art media and exploring physical and conceptual space. 

Computer Aided drawing (15 Credits)
Gain and develop skills using Computer Added Drawing (CAD) programmes. The course will cover:

To be eligible for entry to New Zealand Certificate in Arts and Design (Furniture Design and Making) (Level 4), applicants must hold at least one of the following:

NCEA Level 2

OR

Equivalent academic achievement

OR

On a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the Executive Dean.

English language proficiency
If English is not your first language, you must also demonstrate English language skills equivalent to an IELTS overall band score (academic) of 5.5 with no band score less than 5 (or equivalent including TOEFL). IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form (i.e. combining scores from more than one test is not permissible). UCOL Te Pūkenga is a TOEFL testing centre.

In addition to the Domestic Entry Requirements, the following applies to international learner applicants.

English language proficiency
International learner applicants whose first language is not English must have an IELTS Academic score of 5.5 with no band score lower than 5 (or equivalent including TOEFL). IELTS scores used must be taken from a single IELTS Test Report Form (i.e. combining scores from more than one test is not permissible). UCOL Te Pūkenga is a TOEFL testing centre.

Under 20 years of age
In addition to this, international applicants under 20 years of age must have NCEA equivalency.

Work experience
There are no work experience hours for this programme. If you choose to do part-time work, we recommend a maximum of 10 hours a week.

Recognition of prior learning
Applications for Recognition of Prior Learning, including Cross Credit, Credit Transfer and Assessment of Prior Learning may be made on the Recognition of Prior Learning Form where a student believes all learning outcomes for a course have already been met. Applications will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the UCOL Te Pūkenga Academic Statute and other relavant policies and procedures.

Application checklist
It will make the process easier if you prepare the following before you apply:

• National Student Number (NSN) (If you don't have a NSN, you may request one from NZQA, or you can supply a verified copy of your birth certificate, passport or Whakapapa statement.)
• Evidence of your highest level of academic achievement (and evidence of prior learning, if applicable)
• Evidence that you meet the entry requirements of the programme
• Check if you're eligible for additional support or a scholarship. If you're 19 years or younger, you may be eligible to enrol in one of our free Youth Transition programmes.

Note that you will need to provide any verified documents in person, via post or email (not via the online application form)