Intro to Sustainable Product Design with Wood
A course by Thomas Schnur, Industrial and Product Designer
Discover a holistic approach to product design and learn to make furniture that meets your design, sustainability, and functional needs
"In my projects I always try to negotiate with the product I'm going to design. I negotiate the relevance of the material, its creation, form, meaning, and function." In this online course, product designer Thomas Schnur teaches you that sustainability in design is above all about a holistic view of the process. Deepen your knowledge of product design by planning and building a piece of wooden furniture.
Learn how to design a piece of furniture from scratch. First, Thomas shows you the role of craftsmanship and industry in design, as well as the meaning of concepts such as "circular economy" and "carbon footprint". Discover how to generate ideas by observing the everyday, so you can draw, design, and make your very own furniture.
What will you learn in this online course?
19 lessons & 24 downloads
What's included in this course?
Start the course by meeting product designer and woodworking expert Thomas Schnur. After telling you about his background, he shows you some influences and studies that have shaped the way he works.
Get an introduction to the role of craft and industry in the world of design. Then, hear more about wood in the context of furniture design, before exploring the concept of sustainability and the importance of form, function, production, and materials.
Next up, get to work on the design and planning of your piece of furniture. After looking for inspiration and selecting the materials and connecting elements of your piece, record all your ideas in sketches and models.
Once you have all your materials and tools ready, Thomas shows you how to carefully prepare, work on, and assemble all the individual parts.
He wraps things up by providing you with some tips for sustainable surface treatment and finishing with various tools, processes, and products.
- 92% positive reviews (12)
- 917 students
- 19 lessons (4h 4m)
- 24 additional resources (4 files)
- Online and at your own pace
- Available on the app
- Audio: German
- German · Spanish · English · Portuguese · French · Italian · Polish · Dutch · Turkish · Romanian · Indonesian
- Level: Beginner
- Unlimited access forever
Recommended software & tools for this course
RhinoWhat is this course's project?
Design and build a piece of wood furniture.
During the course, Thomas shows you how to design a small, multi-functional, oak piece of furniture that you can then duplicate. "
Who is this online course for?
Anyone interested in the fields of crafts, design, and sustainability.
Requirements and materials
You don't need any previous experience to take the course.
As for materials, have at the ready:
- • oak wood and wood offcuts
• fine saw and chisel
• wood mallet and carpenter's hammer
• flat clamp
• carpenter's square
• marking gauge
• steel ruler and folding ruler
• pencil, paper, and eraser
• cordless drill and twist drill bit
Reviews
Thomas Schnur
A course by Thomas Schnur
Thomas Schnur is a product designer and has been living and working in Cologne, Germany, for more than ten years. He trained as a carpenter and later studied product design at the FH Aachen. His educational background allowed him to develop the awareness that people design their environment on a daily basis and to realize that he was also part of this group of designers. His projects, which often surprise people with their simplicity and originality, open up new perspectives on the concept of everyday objects.
In 2014 he started to mass-produce his first designs and in 2016 they were part of an exhibition entitled Funktionsraum at the PASSAGEN design festival. Over the next few years, he started teaching at ECOSIGN in Cologne, as well as at HBK Saar, UdK Berlin, and Kunsthochschule Kassel. Thomas designs products for the craft and industrial sectors as well as for exhibitions, books, and spaces. This wide range of activities gives him a comprehensive overview of product design at each moment. In his book Common Things he shares his experiences, reflections, and thoughts on some objects from everyday culture. In Chairman, published in 2021, he offers insight into his collaboration with craft professionals and clients for whom he has created designs.
Content
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U1
Introduction
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About Me
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Influences
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U2
Design Basics
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Wood in Craft and Industrial Design 1
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Wood in Craft and Industrial Design 2
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Sustainable Design
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Form, Function, Material, and Production
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U3
Design and Planning
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Personal Research 1
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Personal Research 2
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Inspiration and Research
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Sketches, Ideas, and Models
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Variants and Aspects of Sustainability
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Obtaining and Reviewing Materials
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U4
The Creation Process
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Lists and Plans
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Preparing Individual Parts 1
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Preparing Individual Parts 2
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Marking and Making Joints 1
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Marking and Making Joints 2
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U5
Surface Treatment and Finishing
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Surface Treatment
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Surface Finishing
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FP
Final project
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Intro to Sustainable Product Design with Wood
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What to expect from a Domestika course
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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.
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Learn from the best professionals
Learn valuable methods and techniques explained by top experts in the creative sector.
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Meet expert teachers
Each expert teaches what they do best, with clear guidelines, true passion, and professional insight in every lesson.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Watch professionally produced courses
Domestika curates its teacher roster and produces every course in-house to ensure a high-quality online learning experience.
FAQs
This course is aimed at those with basic knowledge of furniture making or design who want to deepen their understanding of sustainable woodworking, joinery techniques, and modern manufacturing methods.
Prior experience in woodworking or product design is helpful but not required. A genuine interest in materials, techniques, and design is recommended.
You’ll explore circular economy concepts, analyze carbon footprints, and learn how to apply sustainable material choices and efficient production in furniture design.
The course teaches both traditional and modern joinery methods like finger joints, dowels, slot joints, as well as techniques that don’t require glue or screws, with hands-on practice.
You’ll learn how to make pressed and steam-bent wood and how to use these techniques for furniture parts, including practical tips for implementation.
Yes, you’ll learn how to create sketches, 3D models, and prototypes using various materials and techniques in the workshop to support your design process.
The course covers different wood types, particleboard, MDF, veneer, steel sheet, and glass. You’ll understand their properties, processing methods, and sustainability aspects.
Rhino
Der Kurs ist didaktisch sehr gut aufbereitet und Thomas lässt sich Zeit für ausführliche Erklärung und Demonstration. Besonders gefallen haben mir die vielen Quellen zur eigenen Recherche und Erkundung der Themenbereiche Möbelbau, Materialkunde, Nachhaltigkeit und Design. Für Einsteiger*innen in das Thema hervorragend geeignet.
Me gusto que explica con mucha calma.
El ritmo del curso es muy lento. La traducción del aleman deja bastante que desear. Y no explica nada nuevo si tienes una mínima idea del tema de la sostenibilidad.
Me gustó mucho el curso. Los detalles hacen la diferencia.
O curso parece ser muito bom, mas a tradução é dessas "automáticas" e é péssima. Comprometeu muito o acompnahmento do curso.