Furniture Design Process - Finding Inspiration & Avoiding Imitation.

22 Dec

This topic was suggested by one of our listeners inside our private Facebook group Talkshop Insiders, which you can join here.

“How do you get inspiration for designs, where to get it from and how to keep designs original”. - Brittney

Once you start researching you’ll realise there are lots of furniture makers out there making amazing things and also there is a lot of design cross-over.

So how can you carve your own space within the industry and come up with designs that feel unique and true to you? In this blog post we break down the design process from start to finish in 7 simple steps.

We hope this helps you get into the creative zone and come up with products you can truly be proud of. Make sure to share your designs with us, we’d love to see what you’re up to! Email us at gday@alandimo.com.au

1. Decide On The Type Of Furniture You Want To Make

The most successful products on the market are ones that solve a problem. By providing a solution you’ll ensure that your product not only looks great but is practical too.

For example, we started building simple beds that were high quality & built to last a lifetime rather than mass-manufactured furniture that’s designed to be replaced.

As our business developed we realised our customers were looking for storage solutions for their small bedrooms. This is how we ended up with our popular Bookshelf Drawer Bed which has a Bookshelf headboard which eliminates the need for side tables & drawers in the base to utilise the space under the bed which usually goes unused.

Keep a document or notebook of ideas you have or suggestions you receive from customers. Use this to brainstorm ideas.

2. Make A List Of What You Want To Achieve With Furniture

Get really specific with your answers.

Purpose -

This goes back to our first point, what is the purpose of the furniture you are making & does it enhance your customer’s life? Your goal is to come up with a product that is a combination of want & need.

Practicality - things to consider:

● Are the materials easy for you to source?
● Can you move it around yourself in the workshop?
● Is it easy to deliver or freight?
● Is it easy to assemble / install?
● Can you charge enough for the time it takes to make?
● Can you batch make them?
● Is there an upsell?

3. Search For Inspiration From Different Sources

● Nature, fashion, architecture, industrial design, food, interiors, art, photography - search online, in books, magazines.

● Consider shapes, techniques, colours, materials.

● Don’t be afraid to take inspiration from things that may seem unconventional.

● Get ideas by looking at current furniture and design trends, search world-wide and locally. Make notes about what you like and dislike. This is also a great way to stay clear of copying other designers.

4. Create A Moodboard Of The Inspiration Images You’ve Collected

You can create a digital mood board on Pinterest, print out your images and put them in your notebook or pin them up on a board. Whichever you do, refer to it often, add and cull as your ideas develop.

5. Start Designing

You may feel really comfortable working with a pencil and paper or maybe you prefer using design software. In our business Al will do a sketch with rough measurements and then I'll draw it up on the computer using a modelling software like Sketchup.

We’ll play around with the design until we are happy with how it’s looking.

6. Prototype

You could start with a small scaled down model using cardboard, styrofoam or balsa wood, this will help you decide if the proportions look right and you’re happy to move on.

Build your piece of furniture full-size out of a cheaper material, we did this when we designed and built the rocking chair for our daughters nursery. We had to build a full-size version to test the rock, make sure it worked and was comfortable.

You may find throughout this process you need to go back, update your design, make notes, change your construction methods and adjust measurements.

7. Build Your Product

Now that you are happy with your design and the construction method it’s time to create it in full size using the materials & seal you like. At this stage you may realise that the materials you originally thought may need to change. For example, you may discover a different species of timber is better suited to the piece or you’d prefer to seal using a different colour or finish.

Once you’ve tested and you’re satisfied with the end result, your product can be photographed and added to your portfolio, ready for sale.