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

Furniture design and making
Custom made furniture making
Furniture manufacturing
Furniture restoration
Furniture retailing
Design drawing
Pattern making
Stage set design
Marine cabinet making
Joinery
To find out more about possible job prospects and salaries for Cabinet Makers, see careers.govt.nz