Description

INTERNATIONAL DESIGNER MAKER COURSE

Learn to design and make beautiful furniture

Name: International Designer Maker | Furniture Making in the UK (Copy)
SKU: 2day-tool-1-1-1-1-3
Price: 16750.00 GBP
Availability: OutOfStock

An intensive six-month furniture making course in the English Lake District, designed for aspiring makers from the UK and around the world.

Waters & Acland furniture making workshop

Next course
September 2027

Duration
26 weeks

Class size
Maximum 6

Experience
None required

THE COURSE

Furniture making from the ground up

Whether you’re completely new to furniture making or looking to develop existing skills to a professional level, the International Designer Maker Course gives you six months to immerse yourself in the craft.

You’ll learn through structured projects, practical tuition and your own furniture designs, developing a thorough understanding of making, design and workshop practice.

No previous experience is required. You’ll work closely with our tutors throughout the course, building the skills and confidence to design and make high-quality furniture independently.

WHY WATERS & ACLAND?

Serious training in a small workshop environment

Small classes and a practical, hands-on approach allow us to give every student close tuition throughout the course.

Expert tuition

Learn directly from experienced furniture makers and designers, with guidance throughout every stage of your development.

Small classes

With a maximum of six students, there is time for individual tuition, feedback and support at the bench.

Learn by making

Develop your skills through carefully designed projects before progressing to furniture of your own design.

Develop your own work

Move beyond set exercises to develop, design and make furniture that reflects your own interests and ideas.

FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Study furniture making in the Lake District

Students travel to Waters & Acland from across the UK and around the world, including the US, Canada, Australia and Europe.

Spending six months with us gives you the opportunity to step away from everyday life and concentrate fully on learning the craft in a working furniture-making environment.

If you’re considering travelling to the UK for the course, we’re happy to discuss the practicalities and answer questions about studying with us.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN

A complete furniture making education

From preparing your first hand tools to designing and making your own furniture, the course develops both practical skill and understanding.

Hand tools

Selection, preparation, sharpening and confident use of planes, chisels and other essential hand tools.

Joinery

Develop accuracy and confidence in traditional cabinetmaking joints, cut both by hand and machine.

Wood machining

Learn to prepare timber and use workshop machinery and power tools safely, accurately and efficiently.

Furniture design

Develop ideas through drawing, SketchUp and Layout, and learn to turn a concept into a practical piece of furniture.

Specialist techniques

Explore veneering, marquetry, laminating, carving, turning, jig making and other specialist processes.

Finishing

Develop professional approaches to surface preparation, finishing, French polishing and final assembly.

TERM 1

Total immersion

The first term builds the core skills, accuracy and workshop confidence you’ll need as a furniture maker.

14 WEEKS

Building a solid foundation

The first 14 weeks combine demonstrations, practical tuition and structured projects to establish strong workshop habits and core making skills.

Hand tool preparation and use
Wood machining and power tool operation
Traditional and machine-cut joinery
Carving, veneering, laminating and jig making

Each project builds on the skills developed in the previous one, gradually introducing greater accuracy, complexity and independence.

SET PROJECTS

Learn by making

Four carefully designed projects provide the framework for your first term, introducing new techniques as your skills develop.

PROJECT 01

Low Table

An introduction to accurate marking, joinery, assembly and finishing through a simple table with exposed construction.

PROJECT 02

Dovetailed Box

Develop hand-cut dovetails, fitting and accuracy while introducing more refined cabinetmaking techniques.

PROJECT 03

Tri Table

Explore laminating, veneering and marquetry while bringing together a broader range of specialist techniques.

PROJECT 04

Wall Cabinet

A more advanced cabinet project developing shaping, fitting, construction and finishing skills.

TERM 2

Develop your own furniture

In the second term, the emphasis shifts from structured projects to furniture of your own design.

You’ll develop ideas, resolve construction and design details, select materials and take your pieces through the complete making process with guidance from our tutors.

As your confidence grows, you’ll work with greater independence and begin developing your own approach as a designer and maker.

THE LAKE DISTRICT

Six months immersed in the craft

Waters & Acland is based in the English Lake District, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an inspiring place to spend an extended period learning and making.

The workshop provides a focused environment in which furniture, design and craftsmanship become part of everyday life.

6 students

Maximum intake per course

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Travelling to the UK to study?

If you’re joining us from overseas, please check the current UK entry and visa requirements that apply to your circumstances before making travel arrangements.

We’re happy to answer questions about the course, its dates and your time at Waters & Acland, but official immigration and visa advice should always be obtained from GOV.UK.

View current GOV.UK visitor guidance →

COURSE CONTENT

Skills you’ll develop

The exact balance develops throughout the course, but your training will cover the following core areas.

Workshop foundations

Tool selection, preparation and sharpening
Control of chisels and planes
Accurate marking and measuring
Reading workshop drawings
Machine shop training
Timber selection and preparation

Joinery & construction

Hand-cut and machine-cut joinery
Dovetails and cabinetmaking
Door fitting and hinging
Adhesives and assembly
Edge profiling and shaping
Jig making

Specialist techniques

Veneering and marquetry
Laminating and curved work
Moulds, formers and vacuum pressing
Carving and hand shaping
Wood turning
Surface preparation and finishing

READY TO JOIN US?

Start your journey as a designer maker

No previous furniture making experience or formal qualifications are required. If you’re ready to spend six months developing your skills in the workshop, we’d be delighted to hear from you.

Enquire about the course →

ENQUIRE ABOUT THE COURSE

Get in touch

Interested in joining the International Designer Maker Course? Send us your details and we’ll get back to you with further information and current availability.

Additional information

Dates	12/06/23 – 13/06/23 (D/M/Y), 30/10/23 – 31/10/23 (D/M/Y)

International Designer Maker | Furniture Making in the UK (Copy)

Description

Learn to design and make beautiful furniture

Furniture making from the ground up

Serious training in a small workshop environment

Expert tuition

Small classes

Learn by making

Develop your own work

Study furniture making in the Lake District

A complete furniture making education

Hand tools

Joinery

Wood machining

Furniture design

Specialist techniques

Finishing

Total immersion

Building a solid foundation

Learn by making

Low Table

Dovetailed Box

Tri Table

Wall Cabinet

Develop your own furniture

Six months immersed in the craft

Travelling to the UK to study?

Skills you’ll develop

Workshop foundations

Joinery & construction

Specialist techniques

Start your journey as a designer maker

Get in touch

Additional information

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