Associate Degree in Design (Furniture)
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
About
This program has been designed for you to develop broad theoretical knowledge and technical and practical skills in furniture design and making for an increasingly globalised and diverse industry.You will explore the practice of furniture design and manufacturing, while developing a personal understanding of how you fit within the range of practice of industry.
While acquiring practical skills, such as hand and machine techniques, in constructing furniture prototypes you will also learn to develop ideas through iterative design practice.
Engaging concepts in aesthetics, sustainability, modern manufacturing methods, ergonomics, global society and user centered design.Projects you will undertake within the program will develop your ideas generation and problem solving skills.
You will be encouraged to evaluate and reflect on outcomes of your work as opportunities to develop stronger knowledge of design and making furniture products.
You will develop methods and techniques to communicate your ideas and technical information to various audiences such as clients, manufacturers, marketers, makers, suppliers and machines.In your final semester, a capstone project, is developed in response to an industry proposition.
In order to integrate your technical and theoretical knowledge, to connect with theory and practice and enable you to demonstrate the skills you have acquired through the program.On completion of the program you be able to enter the industry as a practitioner with a broad knowledge of modern furniture manufacturing or pursue further study.
You will be able to investigate issues, confidently communicate ideas to others and provide informed opinions on concepts and principles of sustainable furniture design and manufacture.
You will be experienced in team-based production work and be able to develop individual furniture propositions and apply creative practice to varied problems and industry contexts.
Structure
All course listed may not be available each semester.
Year One of Program
Complete the following Four (4) courses:
| Course Title | Credit Points | Course Code | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Studies 1 (Furniture Design) | 12 | GRAP2374 | City Campus |
| Design Principles and Elements | 12 | GRAP2375 | City Campus |
| Workshop Methods | 12 | GRAP2376 | City Campus |
| Communication 1 (Furniture Design) | 12 | GRAP2377 | City Campus |
Complete the following Four (4) courses:
| Course Title | Credit Points | Course Code | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Communication 2 (Furniture Design) | 12 | GRAP2378 | City Campus |
| Design Studies 2 (Furniture Design) | 12 | GRAP2379 | City Campus |
| Develop, Trial and Evaluate Prototypes | 12 | GRAP2380 | City Campus |
| Design Process | 12 | GRAP2381 | City Campus |
Year Two of Program
Complete the following Three (3) courses:
| Course Title | Credit Points | Course Code | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Studio 3 (Furniture Design) | 24 | GRAP2382 | City Campus |
| Design Studies 3 (Furniture Design) | 12 | GRAP2383 | City Campus |
| Technology 3 (Furniture Design) | 12 | GRAP2384 | City Campus |
Complete the following Three (3) courses:
| Course Title | Credit Points | Course Code | Campus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Design Studio 4 (Furniture Design) | 24 | GRAP2385 | City Campus |
| Technology 4 (Furniture Design) | 12 | GRAP2386 | City Campus |
| Independent Professional Practice for Furniture Designers | 12 | GRAP2387 | City Campus |
Entry requirements
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school) qualification.
For equivalents to Australian academic entry requirements, see the Country Equivalency web page on the RMIT website.
Prerequisites
Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or at least 20 in any other English.
International English language requirement
A minimum of IELTS (Academic module) overall score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0, or equivalent. For equivalents to English entry requirements, see the English requirements web page.
Selection task
All applicants must complete and submit the selection task.
Learning outcomes
The program has been designed to prepare you to work in a varied furniture industry, to pursue further study options and developing new ideas of what the practice of furniture design and manufacture is.
On completion of this program of study you will be able to:
- Explore materials and modern manufacturing methods to develop concepts to proposal or prototype for both local and international corporate or individual clients
- Design and realise innovative and novel furniture products as part of a collaborative team and as an independent designer
- Apply and creatively adapt theoretical and technical knowledge and skills to your practice of furniture design
- Identify and combine principles and concepts in art and design, the craft of making, the technologies of creation and manufacture together with ergonomic factors to develop furniture solutions to complex and varied problems
- Evaluate your own work, ideas and concepts, including self, peer and industry critique
- Articulate and transmit design ideas and details through a variety of methods and technologies to be able to present design outcomes for others to understand and engage with
- Present and communicate furniture prototypes for sustainable futures which consider the professional and ethical practice of furniture design in a global societal cultural context
- Apply initiative and judgment in exploration in, planning of, problem solving and decision making in your work
Institution
