Program Overview

Furniture Design Master of Fine Arts Degree

Overview

The master’s in furniture design is structured to support your individual interests and aesthetic development. While engaging in the design and construction of a range of furniture objects, you will be challenged to advance your aesthetic, conceptual, and design sensibilities while simultaneously strengthening your building techniques and construction strategies. You will be exposed to a broad range of contemporary practices and creative approaches to design and art-making in support of experimentation, critical reflection, and the development of your personal aesthetic and design philosophy.

RIT’s Master’s in Furniture Design

The first year of the furniture design degree exposes you to a broad range of critical issues related to the conception and production of art, serves to inspire and provoke your critical reflection, and facilitates the development of your preliminary thesis topic. You will spend ample time creating work, while you strengthen your woodworking techniques, design fundamentals, and your sense of personal creative expression. In the second year, you will continue to refine your work aesthetic as you propose and fully engage in a thesis project. You will work with RIT's gallery coordinators and curators to install and exhibit a final body of work.

Furniture Design Scholarship Available

The Beth and Ira Nash Endowed Scholarship is available to qualified applicants applying to the master's in furniture design.

Studio Residency Program

The School for American Crafts offers a Studio Residency Program for students in ceramics, furniture design, glass, and metals and jewelry design. Residence positions are limited and are awarded after the review of all applicants’ portfolios, transcripts, and references. An interview is required. Accepted residents are required to register for one independent study credit during each semester of residence.

Careers and Experiential Learning

Typical Job Titles

• Craft Artist
• Sculptor
• Furniture Designer
• Designer

Cooperative Education and Internships

What makes an RIT education exceptional? It’s the ability to complete relevant, hands-on career experience. At the graduate level, and paired with an advanced degree, cooperative education and internships give you the unparalleled credentials that truly set you apart.

Co-ops and internships take your knowledge and turn it into know-how. Your art and design co-ops provide hands-on experience that enables you to apply your artistic capabilities in dynamic professional settings while you make valuable connections between classwork and real-world applications.

Cooperative education, internships, and other experiential learning opportunities are optional but strongly encouraged for graduate students in the MFA in furniture design.

Creative Industry Days

RIT’s Office of Career Services and Cooperative Education hosts Creative Industry Days, which connects students majoring in art, design, film and animation, photography, and select computing majors with companies, organizations, creative agencies, design firms, and more.

Curriculum

Furniture Design, MFA degree, typical course sequence

• First Year
  • CWFD-601: Furniture Design Graduate Studio (12 credits)
  • STAR-701: Technology in the Studio (3 credits)
  • STAR-702: Studio Art Research (3 credits)
  • STAR-714: Ideation and Series (3 credits)
  • Open Electives (6 credits)
  • Professional Elective (3 credits)
• Second Year
  • CWFD-601: Furniture Design Graduate Studio (12 credits)
  • STAR-706: Business Practices for Studio Artists (3 credits)
  • STAR-718: Research Methods and Publication (3 credits)
  • STAR-790: Research and Thesis (3 credits)
  • STAR-890: Thesis (6 credits)
  • Open Elective (3 credits)

Professional Electives

• ARTH-600+: Any ARTH-600 level course or above
• IDEA-705: Thinking About Making: The Practice of Art in a Global Society
• IDEA-776: College Teaching and Learning
• STAR-635: Curating and Managing Art Spaces
• STAR-645: Art Exhibition Critique
• STAR-758: Studio Art Critique

Admissions and Financial Aid

This program is available on-campus only.

• Offered: Full-time
• Admit Term(s): Fall
• Application Deadline: February 1 priority deadline, rolling thereafter
• STEM Designated: No

Application Details

To be considered for admission to the Furniture Design MFA program, candidates must fulfill the following requirements:

• Complete an online graduate application.
• Submit copies of official transcript(s) (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work, including any transfer credit earned.
• Hold a baccalaureate degree (or US equivalent) from an accredited university or college. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (or equivalent) is recommended.
• Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
• Submit a personal statement of educational objectives.
• Submit two letters of recommendation.
• Entrance exam requirements: None
• Submit a portfolio. View portfolio requirements.
• Submit English language test scores (TOEFL, IELTS, PTE Academic), if required.

Cost and Financial Aid

An RIT graduate degree is an investment with lifelong returns. Graduate tuition varies by degree, the number of credits taken per semester, and delivery method.

A combination of sources can help fund your graduate degree. Learn how to fund your degree.

Crafts Scholarships

Students applying to the MFA programs in ceramics, glass, furniture design, and metals and jewelry design may apply for a competitive, full-tuition scholarship.

Faculty

• Rolf Hoeg: Lecturer
• Andy Buck: Professor

Facilities

• Furniture Design Storage Room
• Furniture Design Bench Room 1
• Furniture Design CNC Room

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