Department Head

Christopher Specce

Graduate Program Director

Patty Johnson

• Learn more about Furniture Design at RISD

• Department Location and Contacts

Curriculum

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA): 2-year

• Master of Fine Arts (MFA): 3-year

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the BFA program are prepared to:

• conceive of and develop a body of self-directed work comprised of highly resolved, full-scale furniture and objects.

• effectively use drawing, writing, reading and the making of objects in parallel to explore and articulate original design concepts.

• demonstrate competency in handling a variety of materials and processes by taking a project from concept to finished object.

• apply a unique and adaptable design process to a variety of contexts and problems such as form, materials research, fabrication and use.

• articulate an informed point of view related to the fundamental issues of the discipline of furniture design.

Graduates of the two-year MFA program are prepared to:

• effectively use a combination of two- and three-dimensional concept development skills to complete full-size human-scale design prototypes for furniture and related objects.

• critique and communicate contextual, conceptual and technical content through visual, written and spoken means.

• communicate specific designs in detail to allow for manufacture by others.

• relate design concepts and physical prototypes to a defined context and make an individual contribution to the discipline of furniture design.