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:
- Computer Aided Drawing (CAD)
- Project design and production of technical detailed plans relating to furniture objects
- Technical construction: a range of drawing approaches, including, but not limited to: orthogonal, auxiliary, pictorial and geometric construction, drafting/plan, perspective
- Render quality in digital form
- Lighting and basic interior design for visual communication
Creative Practice (30 Credits)
Develop your technical and conceptual skills related to creative furniture design elements, principles and processes. The course will cover:
- Safety – techniques, equipment, jigs, guards
- Creative processes, ideation and implementation
- Joint making, tool making, furniture making
- Timber – properties and usage and selection
- Hand tools – uses, techniques, care and maintenance
- Portable and fixed machinery – uses, techniques, preparation, set-up, maintenance
- Setout techniques and uses
- Components – joints and their qualities, construction techniques, hardware variety and usage
- Research – materials, hardware, construction techniques
- Traditional and modern materials in furniture construction
- Sketching and modeling techniques and materials
- Ergonomics and structural design
- Design process, elements and principles
- Furniture specific to cabinet making, doors, drawers and jointmaking
- Bending elements within furniture making
- Kerf, steam, lamination, cut
Advanced Creative Practice (30 Credits)
Further develop your technical and conceptual skills in creative furniture design elements, principles and processes. Learn to communicate and design in a group and with an external client. The course covers:
- Research – materials, hardware, advanced construction techniques
- Traditional and modern materials in furniture construction
- Veneering tools and materials
- Sketching and modelling techniques and materials
- Ergonomics and structural design
- Design process, elements and principles
- Industry application in furniture design and making
- Working with clients to make furniture
Creative Theory (15 Credits)
Gain a range of skills surrounding art/design and creative industries in relation to creative furniture practice. The course covers:
- Creative problem solving
- Industry/Work Safe H&S
- Collaborating within a group
- Explore potential future vocational pathways
- Furniture related context and conventions
- Creative processes relating to furniture
- Creative industries and Furniture making
Introduction to Business and Marketing (15 Credits)
An introduction to marketing, small business and financial practice in the context of furniture design and making. The course covers:
- Business identity and marketing strategies
- Marketing environment including customer needs/demand
- Features running a small business enterprise
- Characteristics of a successful furniture making business
- Criteria for evaluating the success of small business operations
- Set up costs and capital structure of a small business operation
- Develop industry-appropriate personal and bookkeeping business records
- Financial viability of the proposed small business operation
- Submitting a negotiated furniture design
- Define the standard concepts and pricing strategies in furniture contracts