- Code: DI
- Certification: QQI Level 5 Award in Furniture Design (5M2012)
- Duration: One Year
Description
This course equips learners with the essential skills of furniture design and making. There are practical classes using hand tools and machinery as well as drawing and design modules. Each student has the opportunity to develop practical Joinery and Carpentry skills so they can produce their own unique pieces of furniture. Learners have access to a design studio, a well-equipped workshop with machine, hand and power tool training as part of the course. This award provides a link to Furniture Design and Timber Technology programmes in Ireland through the CAO system and leads into a Level 6 Cabinet Making course in BIFE. All learners can gain practical work experience and exhibit their work at the end-of-year Art & Design Exhibition in the Institute.
- Programme of Study
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- Furniture Making
- Design
- Drawing
- Wood Turning
- Wood finishing
- Computer Aided Design – CNC programming
- Communications
- Work Experience
Components subject to change - Entry Requirements
-
One of the following:
- Leaving Certificate or its equivalent. Extenuating circumstances may be considered
- Leaving Certificate Applied Award
- Full QQI Level 4 Award
- Mature Applicants – experience will be considered in lieu of formal qualifications
- Career Opportunities
-
- Cabinet Making/Joinery
- CAD/CAM Engineer
- Machinery Technician
- Carpentry
- Designer
- Spray Technician/Wood Finisher
- Higher education progression*
-
Examples of potential courses include:
BIFE:
- Advanced Craft Design (Level 6)
TU Dublin:
- Sustainable Timber Technology (TU838)
SETU Carlow Campus (formerly IT Carlow):
- Product Design Innovation (SE202)
ATU Atlantic Technological University (Letterfrack Campus):
- Furniture Design and Manufacture (AU581)
- Furniture Making and Architectural Woodworking (AU582)
- Furniture Design, Making and Technology (Common Entry) (AU583)
*Places are not guaranteed in these Institutes and are subject to students meeting certain criteria. Please consult the individual college websites for more information on application. Information available also at www.cao.ie
- Advanced Craft Design (Level 6)
- Course Co-Ordinator
-
Noel Sweeney
- Where are they now?
-
Meet BIFE students who have graduated from this course...
Profile – Brian Tyrrell
Business name: Bear Creations
"I completed the Furniture Making course in BIFE in 2008. This enabled me to go on to study Furniture Design and Manufacture in GMIT Letterfrack. Following on from this I got a job with a leading Irish furniture maker, Shane Holland in Co. Meath. From there I moved to Thomas Montgomery Furniture Makers in Bray. Having gained invaluable work experience in wood, metals and upholstery, I decided to set up my own business in 2015.
The Furniture Making course in BIFE was a very valuable part of me being able to get to this stage. Not only did it teach me the basics of furniture making, it also allowed me the freedom to experiment and create my designs and enabled me to carry out a project from the design stage to the finished piece." - Brian Tyrrell