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Description
Design and develop residential, office, and hospitality furniture, blending aesthetics, ergonomics, materials, and manufacturing to create functional, durable, and marketable pieces and coordinated collections.
  • • Define cohesive design language, finishes, and functionality across furniture lines.
  • • Create concept sketches, detailed drawings, renderings, and shop-ready CAD models for furniture pieces and collections.
  • • Oversee prototype fabrication and produce technical drawings, cut lists, and specification sheets.
  • • Iterate designs from prototypes to meet client requirements, cost targets, and manufacturing constraints.
  • • Collaborate with engineering, upholstery, sourcing, marketing, sales, and clients to validate concepts.
  • • Present designs, materials, and cost options to stakeholders and incorporate feedback.
  • • Assess feasibility for ergonomics, stability, safety, durability, serviceability, and production methods.
  • • Track trends, materials, and competitor products through shows, publications, and market research.
  • • Specify materials, hardware, joinery, and finishes; evaluate vendors; and develop BOMs and cost estimates.
  • • Create visual assets, finish boards, and assembly/installation guides for sales, packaging, and e-commerce.
  • • Develop and document manufacturing processes; support factory trials and quality improvements.
  • • Guide and review work of junior designers, drafters, and model makers.
  • • Build scale models and full prototypes using wood, metal, upholstery, plastics, and 3D prints.
  • • Test products for load, tip, comfort, finish durability, assembly, shipping, and maintenance.
  • • Establish internal standards and ensure compliance with BIFMA/ANSI, flammability, and emissions regulations.
  • • Contribute to line planning and user/market research to identify new furniture opportunities.
  • • Advise clients on brand-aligned design language, materials palettes, and merchandising for furniture programs.
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Tasks & skills: O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge). Learn more
Sources & Standards: This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
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