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• Furniture maker: Nick

Furniture maker: Nick

This Case Study belongs to Furniture designer.

I met my current employer through the university as he was my business lecturer on the course. At the end-of-year show he approached me to ask if I was interested in working for him as a furniture maker. I went for an interview, accepted the job in late August and began working in September 2007. The jobs I did before university were as a sales assistant to help finance my college expenses. During my time at university and in the holidays, I worked for myself as a student handyman.

My current job in furniture making is focused on making ability and speed. You must work hard at honing your making skills so that they're of a very high standard; once these are up to scratch, it's important to reach a productive making speed. The skills I gained in my degree course from CAD to workshop time have all been very important. It's surprising the range of knowledge required and what comes in handy. If anything, there could have been more variation in my degree subjects. If I'd been on a different course, I wouldn't have got the job. There are very few courses in the country that would have led me into this job, and even this career, and Bucks New University is one of the best.

The tips that I would give to a graduate looking to become a furniture maker are to work hard at developing hand skills, especially the quality of making, and take advantage of all facilities and knowledge available during your university course. Make sure that you stretch your designs to cover as wide an area of making skills as possible and utilise all the machines and facilities available. Learn CAD and other programs and concentrate on quality of making and producing a good portfolio of work.

Since joining the company, I've always had the same role, although I'm now more equipped skill-wise to tackle more complicated projects. My main task is to construct the furniture that Richard designs. This involves making the furniture and often making constructional decisions. I also help maintain the workshop machines, as well as everyday tasks such as tidying up and cleaning to maintain a safe working environment. There are no unenjoyable parts to the job, except of course it can be quite physical. I love to make things; this job provides me with challenging designs to make and lots of rewards for completing a beautiful piece. I'm planning to become self-employed, designing and making my own furniture at some point soon in the future, but I'm also interested in gaining design experience, so at some point I may look to work in London as a designer, or as a furniture design and construction consultant.

Case Study sourced by Rita Kapadia of AGCAS, 12 January 2009.