Application
This unit of competency covers identifying the qualities of a one-off designed furniture item and designing a furniture product for a client or for exhibition based on those qualities. It can apply to a custom furniture business and/or design support environment and can include custom-made details and fittings in the construction of the product.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Identify and analyse qualities and properties of one-off made furniture items | 1.1 | Applicable work health and safety (WHS), legislative and organisational requirements relevant to the design of one-off furniture items are verified and complied with |
1.2 | Details of the qualities and properties of one-off made furniture methods are identified, reviewed and documented | ||
1.3 | Details are recorded in accordance with enterprise practice | ||
2 | Prepare design brief | 2.1 | Product needs and external parameters and factors are reviewed and clarified with the client |
2.2 | Report on product needs is produced, including design opportunities | ||
2.3 | Feedback from the client is recorded | ||
2.4 | Details of changes are negotiated with client and recorded | ||
2.5 | Outcomes of design process are clarified and agreed to with client | ||
2.6 | Design brief is prepared and documented, including budget, timelines, production needs and methods | ||
3 | Generate ideas in response to design brief | 3.1 | All relevant information on produce need and client needs are analysed and absorbed |
3.2 | Ideas are generated from information provided using lateral thinking methods | ||
3.3 | Ideas are visually presented | ||
3.4 | Ideas are matured through review and re-working | ||
3.5 | New ideas are generated from initial ideas | ||
3.6 | Final ideas are visually presented | ||
4 | Evaluate and develop design proposals | 4.1 | Each design idea is evaluated against prioritised product and client needs and recommendation recorded |
4.2 | Design proposals are scored against weighted assessment criteria and results recorded | ||
4.3 | Feasible high scoring design proposals are selected for further development | ||
4.4 | Design proposals are developed in response to evaluation feedback | ||
5 | Present product proposals to client | 5.1 | Product proposals are prepared for presentation to client |
5.2 | Presentation arrangements are made, checked and confirmed | ||
5.3 | Design proposals are presented to the client | ||
5.4 | Client feedback is gained, analysed and confirmed | ||
5.5 | Design proposals are completed with consideration to client feedback | ||
6 | Produce final product proposal information ready for making | 6.1 | Construction details are finalised and documented |
6.2 | Visual aspects of product proposal are documented | ||
6.3 | Part details are documented | ||
6.4 | Manufacturing methods are documented | ||
6.5 | Details are recorded in accordance with enterprise practice | ||
Evidence of Performance
Collect, organise and understand information related to furnishing work instructions and work orders and safety procedures
Identify materials used in the work process
Follow work instructions, operating procedures and inspection processes to:
minimise the risk of injury to self or others
prevent damage to goods, equipment and products
maintain required production output and product quality
Identify the limitations and opportunities of one-off design for furniture product and produce and communicate three (3) product proposals, including:
customer requirements
aesthetics
materials and construction
costing calculations for products
materials and finishes
Document the product needs analysis, visual references, physical constraints and the evaluation of initial product proposals
Use mathematical ideas and techniques to correctly complete measurements, calculate area and estimate material requirements
Lead others and work effectively to improve production quality and outcomes
Communicate ideas and information to enable confirmation of work requirements and specifications and the reporting of work outcomes and problems, interpret basic plans and follow safety procedures
Use workplace technology related to the coordination, including communication equipment, time and management aids and other measuring devices
Minimise wastage of resources, including materials, time and money
Work with others and in a team by recognising dependencies and using cooperative approaches to optimise work flow and productivity and encourage participation of employees in the planning of work activities and changes
Evidence of Knowledge
State or territory WHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes of practice relevant to the design of furniture maker product
Ideas generation and conceptual development techniques
Historical furniture styles and movements
Contemporary furniture styles and movements
Furniture design methodology
Current ethical issues in society affecting furniture makers
Ergonomic and anthropometric standards
Environmental issues in making a furnishing product
Visual aesthetics of furnishing products
Current market segment products
Production methodologies of furniture makers
Physical needs of product type
Materials used to produce furnishing products
Furniture materials and finishes
Making techniques for product types
Costing techniques, including overhead components
Options and technologies for presenting visual information
Established communication channels and protocols
Relevant design and production problem identification and resolution methods
Relevant document control methods
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must:
hold training and assessment competencies as determined by the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC) or its successors
have vocational competency in the furnishing industry at least to the level being assessed with broad industry knowledge and experience, usually combined with a relevant industry qualification
be familiar with the current skills and knowledge used and have relevant, current experience in the furnishing industry.
Assessment methods must confirm consistency of performance over time rather than a single assessment event and in a range of workplace relevant contexts.
Assessment must be by observation of relevant tasks with questioning on underpinning knowledge and, where applicable, multimedia evidence, supervisor’s reports, projects and work samples.
Assessment is to be conducted on single units of competency or in conjunction with other related units of competency. Foundation skills are integral to competent performance in the unit and should not be assessed separately.
Assessment must occur on the job or in a workplace simulated facility with relevant process, equipment, materials, work instructions and deadlines.
Access is required to a realistic product need, specific information covering client needs, manufacturing capabilities, details of the product requirements and options.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. Detail on appropriate performance levels for each furnishing unit of competency in reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy utilising the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) are provided in the Furnishing Training Package Implementation Guide.
Range Statement
Specifies different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment. | |
Unit context includes: | WHS requirements, including legislation, building codes, material safety management systems, hazardous and dangerous goods codes, and local safe operating procedures or equivalent work is carried out in accordance with legislative obligations, environmental legislation, relevant health regulations, manual handling procedures and organisation insurance requirements work requires individuals to demonstrate conceptual and analytical ability, discretion, judgement and problem solving customers or suppliers may be internal or external |
Inspirational information includes: | catalogues brochures magazines existing products reference books other existing enterprise design information transferable technological ideas or concepts natural or man-made structures and objects |
Visual needs of the product include: | point line plane volume shape form tone colour surface texture scale size vertex edge face position direction space balance movement proportion rhythm repetition pattern relief mass movement |
Ethical considerations include: | social justice environmental sustainability biodiversity cultural heritage social responsibility of furniture makers |
Lateral thinking methods include: | suspending belief looking for gaps of need alternatives daydreaming creative leaping filaments brainstorming six thinking hats asking questions of norms and beliefs |
Information and procedures include: | work procedures/instructions manufacturer specifications and instructions standard forms of workplace process and procedures organisation work specifications and requirements legislation, regulations and codes of practice quality and Australian Standards and procedures |
Sectors
Furniture design and technology