Furniture and Object Design for Beginners
A course by Juan Pablo FuentesIndustrial Designer
A course by Juan Pablo Fuentes, Industrial Designer
Learn to design a set of furniture and objects from the concept to the model
Designing a piece of furniture without knowing how to draw is possible. Industrial designer Juan Pablo Fuentes shows you how you can do just that by following a dynamic and simple process. With over 20 years' experience manufacturing furniture, he's fine-tuned how to take designs from concept to model to later be manufactured in real size.
In this introductory online course for furniture and object design, learn the basics of industrial design and create the concept, sketch, plan, and model of a small set of furniture and objects step by step.
What will you learn in this online course?
13 lessons & 22 downloads
What is the industrial design?
8 minutes, 8 seconds
What is a concept?
11 minutes, 39 seconds
From concept to collection, one step!
9 minutes, 45 seconds
To look for references! Let's investigate the market?
13 minutes, 31 seconds
What will we design? Unit or collection?
10 minutes, 27 seconds
Moodboard: development
14 minutes, 11 seconds
What's included in this course?
Start by getting to know Juan Pablo Fuentes both personally and professionally and discover more about his passion for industrial design and creative direction.
Discover his main influences and sources of inspiration and knowledge before learning about what industrial design is and how it differs from other areas of design.
Begin the process of creating a furniture and object design project by defining the concept, using Domestika as a case study.
Decide what items of furniture and objects to design, choosing at least three pieces that can coexist together in the same space, such as a table, a shelf, and a rug.
Create a mood board, learn to interpret it, and make informed decisions regarding the spirit of the brand.
Next, Juan Pablo demonstrates that everyone can draw and that you do not have to be an artist to be a designer. Put his theory into practice by transforming your concept into a preliminary sketch of each piece of furniture.
Once the designs are finished, plot out a visual representation plan to communicate the measurements, dimensions, and technical information in a simple way.
To wrap up, turn your 2D plan into a 3D model using simple materials available at any stationery or hardware store. This allows you to visualize the final products and resolve potential issues before turning them into a reality.
What is this course's project?
Design a mini set of three or four pieces of furniture, using Domestika's spirit, brand, and logo as a concept.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
Anyone interested in designing and developing models for furniture and objects to manufacture them with a third party or by themselves
Requirements and materials
No prior knowledge of industrial design is required to take this course.
You need a computer, a printer, card stock, sheets of paper, pencils, rulers, a tape measure, adhesive, scissors, and, for the final stage, materials to make models for your designs.
Reviews
- josilainecovrePLUS16 days ago
Esse curso é fantástico! Rico em conteúdo!
- 5 months ago
Me encantó el enfoque del curso, a veces uno tiene ideas y no sabe como organizarlas para crear. El profe es muy profesional, agradezco mucho a esta plataforma que nos brinda variedades de cursos muy accesibles.
- 8 months ago
Ho appena iniziato il corso, ma ha già suscitato il mio interesse e mi ha dato la voglia di creare qualcosa. È una presentazione molto stimolante.
- 11 months ago
Este curso es invaluable, me indico paso a paso el proceso de diseño con un concepto. Especial para todos aquellos que quieren empezar a diseñar , en mi caso soy arquitecta y gracias a estas pautas podre iniciar un proyecto de diseño de mobiliarios únicos.
- 1 year ago
Great!
In 2008, he founded CÓMODO, a pioneering design store focused on the production, manufacturing, and marketing of Chilean designs. He currently collaborates on the editorial project Nuevos Creativos Chilenos, which focuses on showcasing the best talent of the last ten years of design in different specialties; Products (2015), Clothing (2017) and Graphic Design (2019). In 2017, he founded END—Espacio Nacional de Diseño—the first design gallery in Chile, a space to promote, share, and market limited design pieces and design series.
Within the academic field, he is a professor at various Chilean universities, and between 2010 and 2014, he was Director of the School of Design at the Universidad de las Américas (UDLA). He has participated in exhibitions, fairs, conferences, and seminars in Chile and abroad (Argentina, Colombia, Spain, England, Italy, and Peru). What's more, he was involved in developing the radio program on Chilean design called Design for All.
Among his most important awards are the Avonni Award for Kitchen Design (2017), the Innovation in Design Award from the Ministry of Culture (2016), the Designer of the Year Award from ED magazine (2012), and the Fondart Book Contest Prize for Nuevos Creativos Chilenos (2015-2017).
Content
- U1
Presentation
- Who I am?
- My influences!
- U2
Introduction to design
- What is the industrial design?
- What is a concept?
- From concept to collection, one step!
- To look for references! Let's investigate the market?
- U3
Design has been said!
- What will we design? Unit or collection?
- Moodboard: development
- Moodboard: reading and decisions
- We can all draw ... believe me!
- We already have our design ... What an illusion!
- U4
Two, three dimensions!
- Do we develop the reading and presentation plans?
- Let's give volume to our design! A model, the best solution
- FP
Final project
- Design of furniture and objects for beginners
What to expect from a Domestika course
Learn at your own pace
Enjoy learning from home without a set schedule and with an easy-to-follow method. You set your own pace.
Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
Certificates
PLUSIf you're a Plus member, get a custom certificate signed by your teacher for every course. Share it on your portfolio, social media, or wherever you like.
Get front-row seats
Videos of the highest quality, so you don't miss a single detail. With unlimited access, you can watch them as many times as you need to perfect your technique.
Share knowledge and ideas
Ask questions, request feedback, or offer solutions. Share your learning experience with other students in the community who are as passionate about creativity as you are.
Connect with a global creative community
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FAQs
You’ll learn about conceptualization, collection development, using moodboards, trends, sustainability, and how to turn ideas and inspiration into functional, stylish furniture products using modern techniques and cultural references.
Yes, this course is designed for those with basic design knowledge who want to deepen their understanding of concepts, creative processes, and professional-level furniture collection development.
It’s recommended to have basic design or drawing skills or an interest in the field. This course isn’t for absolute beginners but doesn’t require advanced professional experience either.
You’ll need simple materials for sketches and models (paper, pencils, rulers, cutters), plus a computer with internet access to research references and create digital moodboards.
The course covers conceptualization, furniture history, trend research, product family development, moodboards, sketches, models, sustainability, self-production, and strategies to distinguish fashion from trend in design.
Yes, the course explores the shift toward 3D printing, handcrafted production, and self-manufacturing, helping you compare industrial and manual furniture-making processes.
You’ll learn how to reduce carbon footprint, reuse materials, and apply sustainable design principles in contemporary furniture proposals.