Furniture Manufacturing for Beginners: Open Source Design
A course by STUDIO DLUX - Denis FujiiArchitect
A course by STUDIO DLUX - Denis Fujii, Architect
Create product designs that can be shared and produced worldwide through digital CNC router fabrication
The open source design philosophy and its digital production possibilities are paving the way for more sustainable and collaborative design and manufacture, making it accessible to those in need and starting a dialogue with different cultures. This is a fundamental pillar in the work of Denis Fujii, founder of STUDIO DLUX and creator of the Valoví, the world's most downloaded open source chair that can be manufactured digitally.
In this course, design a piece of furniture or decorative object that can be produced using a CNC router and easily shared worldwide. Denis guides you through each stage, from the initial design using a CAD software to the creation of each piece for CNC cutting.
What will you learn in this online course?
11 lessons & 19 downloads
Digital Fabrication and Open Design
13 minutes, 32 seconds
User Understanding for Furniture Choice
8 minutes, 14 seconds
Choice of Material
7 minutes, 51 seconds
Basic for CNC
8 minutes, 15 seconds
Fits, Cuts and Layers 1
20 minutes, 13 seconds
Fits, Cuts and Layers 2
9 minutes, 25 seconds
What's included in this course?
Get to know a little about Denis Fujii's career so far and how he came to set up STUDIO DLUX. Hear the story behind some of his main projects and how they ended up in so many countries in such a short space of time.
Discover the principles and benefits of open source design and digital manufacture, then Denis teaches you to select a piece of furniture and the appropriate materials. He shows some examples of different projects made with a CNC router and production methods that involve fitting and assembling pieces.
Next, learn to design your piece of furniture with a CAD software such as AutoCAD or Rhinoceros, taking into account both the measurements and the commands used by the CNC router for correct manufacture. Move on to take a detailed look at cutting methods, joints, and layers.
Denis also touches on how communication between the designer and the maker works in the digital production process and how to make sure your file is easy to understand wherever it may be being used.
To wrap up the course, turn your design into pieces for CNC cutting and see how to format your file so it can be shared around the world.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Design a piece of furniture or decorative object for digital fabrication with a CNC router that can be easily shared worldwide.
Who is this online course for?
Architects, designers, makers, and digital manufacturing enthusiasts with a passion for new methods of creating and sharing projects.
Requirements and materials
For this course you need basic knowledge of a CAD software like AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, or similar.
In terms of materials, all you need is a computer with access to the software.
Reviews
- 3 months ago
A good introduction and overview to CNC and open design. This course is better suited for someone who already uses CAD so you can get going. This course is mostly a conceptual introduction.
- 6 months ago
Gracias al profesor he conocido una nueva manera de pensar los muebles. Cambia el método de producción, lo cual lo hace muy inclusivo a muchísima gente. Además las explicaciones son muy claras.
- 1 year ago
Curso excelente para quem deseja aprender a projetar focando em fabricação digital e design aberto. A proposta é prática e atual: criar um mobiliário ou objeto decorativo para produção em router CNC e compartilhamento com outras pessoas no mundo. Conteúdo claro, metodologia bem estruturada e ideal para arquitetos, designers e makers que buscam unir criatividade, tecnologia e colaboração.
- 2 years ago
Gostaria de expressar meu entusiasmo pelo curso de Open Design ministrado pelo professor Denis Fujii. A experiência foi extraordinária! Aprendi a desenvolver produtos utilizando desenhos e sistemas de encaixe, aplicando a tecnologia da máquina router de maneira prática e inovadora. O professor trouxe um conhecimento profundo e uma abordagem inspiradora, tornando o aprendizado ainda mais enriquecedor. Recomendo este curso a todos que desejam expandir suas habilidades em design e fabricação!
- 2 years ago
Más o menos tenía alguna idea de los muebles ensamblables hechos por router CNC, sin embargo este curso me abrió aun más el panorama en las redes colaborativas, variedad de ensambles, encastres y otros aspectos técnicos que desconocía. Ampliamente recomendable para complementar el aprendizaje.
He is also the creator of Valoví, the most downloaded and manufactured open source chair in the world. He is currently specializing in CNC router furniture design and his portfolio includes over 100 original open source designs. His mission is to make architecture and design more accessible, regardless of people's location or means, using digital manufacturing.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Presentation
- Influences
- U2
Open design principles and benefits
- Digital Fabrication and Open Design
- User Understanding for Furniture Choice
- Choice of Material
- U3
Designing for CNC
- Basic for CNC
- Fits, Cuts and Layers 1
- Fits, Cuts and Layers 2
- Preparing the File
- U4
Materializing the Project
- Meet the Producers
- Collaborate with the World
- FP
Final project
- Furniture Manufacturing for Beginners: Open Source Design
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
The community is home to millions of people from around the world who are curious and passionate about exploring and expressing their creativity.
Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
Open furniture design means creating and sharing furniture projects so anyone can produce, adapt, or improve them. It encourages collaboration, sparks innovation, and enables local or custom manufacturing using digital technology.
No prior experience in design or digital fabrication is needed. The course covers intermediate concepts but guides you from the basics through practical techniques for hands-on learning.
You’ll need access to 2D/3D modeling software (like AutoCAD or similar) and ideally some exposure to CNC machines or FabLabs to test your projects. The course suggests free alternatives and explains basic usage.
You’ll learn how to design furniture in 2D and 3D, prepare CNC-ready files, create joints, apply finishes, adapt open-source projects, share files, and collaborate with global design communities.
The course teaches you how to prepare CAD files, set up layers, define joints, adjust measurements to account for material variations, and choose the right bits for precise CNC router cuts.
Yes, the course shows how to document, organize, and publish your digital furniture projects on open source platforms, plus tips for engaging with collaborative communities.
Open design lowers costs, allows for customization, makes local adaptations easier, encourages collaborative innovation, and broadens access to creative solutions through file sharing.