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The graduate program in Furniture Design supports each student’s artistic development and articulation of a design philosophy through the conception, design and construction of furniture and related objects. The work produced ranges from one-of-a-kind objects, to functional pieces designed for limited or mass production, to highly experimental, conceptually based projects. The constant behind this work is the expectation that it show strong aesthetic considerations and fluent use of materials and processes to support indivi-dual design concepts

Students fabricate their works in our studios, and also take advantage of the rich manufacturing resources in the region. In addition to studio work, graduate seminars offer students an opportunity to explore contemporary theory and broaden their awareness of issues that inform their thinking and development. Ideas and projects are refined through numerous reviews and critiques.

Faculty members encourage students to redefine func-tional and aesthetic approaches to furniture design and to examine the changing role of objects in relation to culture. They promote experimentation in terms of concept, process and materials.

We regularly provide opportunities for students to participate in externally partnered research projects and annually exhibit student furniture at venues such as the Milan Furniture Fair and the International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York.

The first-year curriculum balances structure with inter-pretive range, presenting opportunities to experiment with a variety of ideas and solutions. As students progress, they conceive and create a body of work that represents intense, directed investigation and personal growth. Processes are fine-tuned and focused to create a number of pieces that embody individual design philosophies at the highest level of realization.

In the second year students are engaged in producing a body of thesis work and an accompanying written docu-ment. The thesis is an articulation and culmination of the graduate process, simultaneously aiding in self-definition and demonstrating a personal point of view; the two components of the thesis facilitate the completion of a resolved body of work that forms the basis for entering the professional realm.

Graduating MFA candidates in Furniture Design are required to mount a professional public exhibition of their work. See “Thesis” (below) for more information. In addition they also participate in RISD's annual Graduate Thesis Exhibition.