Furniture Diploma Level 2
- Cardigan Campus
A career in furniture making involves designing, crafting, and producing furniture pieces by working with different materials and techniques. It is a specialised field within woodworking and requires a combination of technical skills, creativity, and craftsmanship.
As a practical and creative subject, our courses in furniture making can be an ideal route to a rewarding hands on career. Coleg Ceredigion is the only further education college in Wales offering courses in furniture making in the further education sector and the level 2 qualification is the ideal starting point. It will give you the foundation skills you need to design and make furniture and other uniquely designed pieces from timber and panel products.
Awarded by University of the Arts London (UAL), this very creative and practical course will ensure that you gain insight into all aspects of furniture design, making and finishing. You will learn how to craft joints by hand and machine, using a range of locally sourced hardwoods. Your efforts will culminate in a showcase of your work at the end of year furniture design exhibition.
Course details
- Full time
What you will learn
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Programme features
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Programme content
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Progression and employment
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Method of assessment
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Entry requirements
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Additional costs
The furniture workshops are fully equipped with hand tools, woodworking machinery, CNC router, laser cutter and a solar kiln used to dry wood sustainably. You will build your practical skills in the workshop while learning about timber technology and product development with our team of experienced lecturers and technicians. We also run master classes by renowned industry professionals, such as upholsterers, chair makers, wood turners and carvers. Every so often we like to get out of the workshop, so organise termly visits to museums and galleries, sawmills and relevant businesses. We also have links with colleges abroad, so there is also an opportunity to take part in exchange visits.
Initially you will learn how to make the foundation joints by hand from which most furniture can be made. Alongside this you will learn complementary decorative cabinet making skills such as marquetry. Moving on, we will teach you how to safely use woodworking machinery and power tools in our fully equipped workshop.
Level two projects include making a piece of marquetry in a handmade frame, a side table and a small cabinet. Alongside each practical project you will develop and submit a portfolio or sketchbook of your design development and a technical making journal.
Learning woodworking tools and techniques is integral to making, but furniture is also all about design. A good part of the course is dedicated to exploring design: historical and contemporary. You will study iconic designers and renowned makers, explore design history and combine these influences with your own ideas.
Idea development is a key part of the course. We will teach you a range of sketching and technical drawing techniques to enable you to explore and communicate your design ideas. Eventually this will lead onto using CAD, which can be used to create designs for the laser cutter and CNC.
Most learners choose to continue their studies in furniture at level 3. You may wish to progress, into employment in furniture or wood based occupations, or self-employment. This course will also give you a grounding in the basic principles of design, which you may choose to take forward into a creative subject at higher education level.
Practical and theoretical coursework forms the basis for assessment. There are no formal exams. Regular group critiques and interim assessments will provide you with feedback which will enable you to develop your skills.
4 GCSEs grades A* - D with 2 Cs, one being either English/Welsh (first language) or maths. Or successful completion of a level 1 vocational qualification in a relevant subject. Mature learners without qualifications are welcomed and may be accepted subject to successful interviews. We ask that you have a genuine interest in the subject. Commitment and enthusiasm is essential to get the most from the course.
£50 workshop fee covers materials for the core projects. Additional project materials will be costed on an individual basis.
All learners are required to pay an administration fee of £25.00 on enrolment.
You will need to provide your own safety footwear (protective toe), tape measure and stationery. All other tools are provided. Some specialist trips may involve additional costs.