Throughout history, the progression of human expression through art and design has been tightly coupled to the development of tools. Tools not only represent and allow us to express our ideas, but are also reflective of cultural approaches to production. Fluency in the language of tools - their use, as well as their rich cultural, geographic, and political symbolism - allows artists and designers to work more expressively, more productively, and with greater conceptual depth.

In this hands-on studio course, students will combine theory and practice to develop work which explores the expansive, expressive nature of tools. In the first half of the course, study will be directed to the understanding and creative use of existing tools, moving beyond their typically prescribed use. In the second half, students will develop a novel tool of their own, which they will then use to create an experimental work of art or design. Through lectures, readings, discussions, and guest speakers, students will deepen their understanding of the history and theory of artists’ tools and tools-as-art, such as James Krenov’s handplanes, Cory Arcangel’s Pizza Party, and Jack Whitten’s “Developer”.

This course holds that toolmaking is a constantly evolving, innately human activity, and does not need to be complex to be successful. A broad range of ability from introductory to thesis-level will be supported - no prior making experience necessary. Tools of symbolic manipulation (language, computation) will be treated equally to those of physical manipulation (brush, chisel). Students of all disciplines are welcome and cross-disciplinary experimentation is encouraged.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $100.00

Elective

Learn the theory of Windsor Chairs and how the use of wood in tension can create a chair like no other. This class will cover techniques necessary to the Windsor system of building while working through design decisions that will culminate in a completed chair. Students are encouraged to embrace process and parameters in a direct and hands-on manner. Through small projects, students will learn how to balance wood strength, aesthetics, joint strength and ergonomic considerations. These principles will be applied to a carefully considered, finished chair. Topics covered will include: selection of wood, turning, seat carving, complex radial layout, several types of joinery, and finish techniques.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $200.00

Elective

This course will focus on the art of upholstery design. It will teach the basics of traditional techniques and materials; cover historic influences; and explore methods used in mass production. The course will survey nontraditional materials and review unconventional methods. There will be an emphasis on ergonomics including shaping, angles, and scale and how upholstery impacts comfort. This is a hands-on class where students will gain experience applying the techniques of upholstery.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $100.00

Elective

This course focuses on material and process investigations that lead to a higher degree of technical proficiency providing students with an expanded foundation on which to carry out their ideas. The content of the course emphasizes how exploration and application operate in both pragmatic and unorthodox ways and reinforces ideas of how critical making and material investigation can lead to innovation. The technical aspects of production and outsourcing will also be examined.

Estimated Materials Cost: $150.00

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Furniture Design

This course concentrates on the exploration of personal design aesthetics and the development of furniture projects that exhibit a high degree of technical proficiency.

Enrollment is limited to Graduate Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Furniture Design

Witness trees, as designated by the National Park Service, are long-standing trees that have witnessed key events, trends, and people in history. In this joint studio/liberal arts course, students have the unique opportunity to study and work with a fallen witness tree, shipped to RISD from a national historic site. The course will involve three components:

1) a field trip to the tree's site at the beginning of the semester

2) classroom-based exploration of American history, memory, landscape, and material culture

3) studio-based building of a series of objects from the tree's wood, in response to both the site and students' classroom study

Overall, the course will explore both how material artifacts shape historical understanding and how historical knowledge can create meaningful design.

This is a co-requisite course. Enrollment includes both FD 2451 and HPSS S732. Students will receive 3 studio/non-major studio elective credits and 3 Liberal Arts elective credits, for a total of 6 credits.

This course is open to junior, senior, fifth-year, and graduate students. Contact the instructor for permission to register.

Elective

This course explores advanced design processes and methods of construction. The evolution of a project through a complete design process is required including conceptual and design development phases.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Furniture Design

This course concentrates on projects that begin the thesis body of work. Advanced design and technical processes are continued as part of this process.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Furniture Design

The graduate seminar is a forum for discussion and research outside of the studio setting. Through a series of topical investigations, lectures and presentations, students will explore current design issues, professional practices, directions, and developments within the field, and other topics that will help to formulate the basis of the graduate thesis work.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. First preference is given to Graduate Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Furniture Design

This graduate seminar is organized in parallel with the Graduate Furniture Design Thesis studio for the purpose of guiding the written thesis document. The goal is to provide students with a focused opportunity to map their thesis projects and to create the document that supports their studio practice and body of work known as the thesis.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Furniture Design

This course culminates the completion of the thesis body of works and accompanying written document.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Graduate Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | MFA Furniture Design

This studio course introduces materials commonly used in furniture making and the foundation skills necessary to integrate them into furniture. Emphasis is on techniques, structures and materials properties. These are integrated with theoretical exercises that focus on design.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Furniture Design

This studio course introduces materials commonly used in furniture making and the foundation skills necessary to integrate them into furniture. Emphasis is on techniques, structures and materials properties. These are integrated with theoretical exercises that focus on design.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Furniture Design

This sophomore studio expands basic principles of furniture design and material skills, exploring how the made objects interact with the human body. Intermediate skills will be demonstrated and practiced as students further explore materials and their applications in design.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Furniture Design

This sophomore studio expands basic principles of furniture design and material skills, exploring how the made objects interact with the human body. Intermediate skills will be demonstrated and practiced as students further explore materials and their applications in design.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Furniture Design

CAD Fundamentals I is the first of two required courses in the Furniture Design department’s digital modeling curriculum. With its capacity for rapidly developing and realizing design concepts, 3D CAD modeling has become an indispensable part of contemporary 3D design processes. The goal of this course is for students to develop competency with CAD modeling and a heightened sensitivity to the creative potential that these tools present to designers. Work in the class will center around learning to use two widely adopted, powerful applications: Rhinoceros and Keyshot. A variety of projects will introduce students to essential techniques and knowledge in the realm of CAD modeling, including an understanding of the software’s underlying technologies. Students will develop skills required to model complex forms and to translate these digital models into lifelike renderings, specification drawings, physical models, and additional iterative design variations. This course, along with its sequel, is intended to provide students with a variety of processes and skills that will significantly contribute to their productivity and creativity as designers and makers.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Furniture Design

CAD Fundamentals I is the first of two required courses in the Furniture Design department’s digital modeling curriculum. With its capacity for rapidly developing and realizing design concepts, 3D CAD modeling has become an indispensable part of contemporary 3D design processes. The goal of this course is for students to develop competency with CAD modeling and a heightened sensitivity to the creative potential that these tools present to designers. Work in the class will center around learning to use two widely adopted, powerful applications: Rhinoceros and Keyshot. A variety of projects will introduce students to essential techniques and knowledge in the realm of CAD modeling, including an understanding of the software’s underlying technologies. Students will develop skills required to model complex forms and to translate these digital models into lifelike renderings, specification drawings, physical models, and additional iterative design variations. This course, along with its sequel, is intended to provide students with a variety of processes and skills that will significantly contribute to their productivity and creativity as designers and makers.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Furniture Design

As part II of the sophomore curriculum with digital design tools for furniture design, this course builds from the knowledge, experience, and skills gained in CAD Fundamentals I.  In this course students will continue developing their abilities with Rhino for 3D modeling while learning important techniques for using digital fabrication technologies to realize objects. Many of the projects in this class will have a physical object as the deliverable. A primary concern of the course will be developing methods to deal with the disconnect between working on-screen and working with real materials in physical space. This will be facilitated through experiments with a variety of technologies, both sophisticated (such as CNC machining) and basic (drawing, printing). The learning facilitated by this course should provide students with abilities that greatly expand their potential as designers and makers.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Furniture Design

As part II of the sophomore curriculum with digital design tools for furniture design, this course builds from the knowledge, experience, and skills gained in CAD Fundamentals I.  In this course students will continue developing their abilities with Rhino for 3D modeling while learning important techniques for using digital fabrication technologies to realize objects. Many of the projects in this class will have a physical object as the deliverable. A primary concern of the course will be developing methods to deal with the disconnect between working on-screen and working with real materials in physical space. This will be facilitated through experiments with a variety of technologies, both sophisticated (such as CNC machining) and basic (drawing, printing). The learning facilitated by this course should provide students with abilities that greatly expand their potential as designers and makers.

Majors are pre-registered for this course by the department. Enrollment is limited to Sophomore Furniture Design Students.

Major Requirement | BFA Furniture Design

This course is an appropriate introduction to furniture design in metal. The goal of this course is to introduce students to the basic techniques of metal fabrication as they apply to furniture design. Design issues will be resolved through a series of drawings and models and welding skills will be honed through several preliminary projects. Students will be expected to complete a piece of furniture.

Estimated Cost of Materials: $75.00

Elective