Question by petesteck: How do I take my furniture design into production?
I have many great furniture designs (I think) but have no shop, no money, and no way of producing a prototype myself. Is it possible for one to break into furniture design based on design alone? Who should I talk to or try to work with? What is the process of design to maunfactuing to production to sales. Thanks!!
Best answer:
Answer by Frankie P
Need more info. Are you in antartica?
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Objectified
- OBJECTIFIED (DVD MOVIE)
Objectified is a feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them. In his second film, director Gary Hustwit (Helvetica) documents the creative processes of some of the world’s most influential product designers, and looks at the creativity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets. What can we learn about who we are, and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves?
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Tags: design, furniture, Into, production, take
There is a magazine “Furniture Manufacturing and Design” or FDM. Every year, they list the top 500 companies in the industry which includes everything from sofas to cabinets. Contact some of the manufacturers and see what they have to say. I think most designers end up buying tools and cleaning out their garage. Then they make some sample pieces and show them at home shows, open markets, and small shops. “Design” covers a lot of sins, anything from someone who is more of an artist, to engineers.
The processes start at the concept level (the customer or mfr decides what they want.) After it is conceived, the product progresses to the design phase which includes testing for feasibility, determining how much weight it will bare, etc., what kind of hardware and construction techniques will be required, etc. If the product is feasible, then the manufacturer needs to determine if it’s something that can fit in his production flow based on equipment, personnel, customization, etc. At that point, the sales force needs to be consulted to determine if the product is something that will sell or not, If the product is feasible by the designer, manufacturer, and sales, it is ready for production. Sales can be to distributors, stores, or the consumer.