Department of Furniture
Tartu Art College is the only higher education institution in Estonia, which provides applied education in furniture design and restoration. The curriculum unites two supporting fields of study:
- Furniture design and preparation,
- Furniture restoration.
The objective of the curriculum of Furniture and Restoration is the formation of professional furniture designers and restorators. The curriculum of Furniture and Restoration has an implementational orientation that provides the graduates, in addition to the ability to generate creative ideas, with practical skills for the implementation thereof or for the compilation and implementation of a restoration project.
Graduates have the ability to realize themselves through independent creative projects or specialized vocational research. In the course of completing the curriculum, in-depth knowledge can be obtained in various technologies, materials and theories, placing emphasis on the chosen specialty trend through specialty field training, optional and elective subjects and the diploma thesis.
Pursuant to the principle of curricular enrichment, interdisciplinary projects and cooperation opportunities are promoted.
The objective of the design module is the training of specialist of furniture design/ implementation with the orientation towards small and medium sized enterprises, yet not precluding cooperation with big industries.
The objective of the restoration module is the training of specialists for the purposes of conservation of furniture heritage, enrichment of the Estonian furniture heritage with new findings and conduction of background studies.
The graduates are prepared for working in design and interior architecture bureaus, as furniture restorers in furniture restoration companies, small entrepreneurs or sole proprietors. Students who have completed the curriculum have extensive skills for furniture design and realisation of their own ideas.
During the period from 1996 to 2001, the department of furniture has participated in international furniture Fair in Köln and won international recognition. Among the alumni of the department are well known designers Taso Mähar, Tõnis Vellamaa, Priit Verlin, Rain Pluutus and Raul Erdel.
The Department of Furniture is lead by full-time Docent-Head of the Department Jaak Roosi (interior architect). In addition, the department employs composition teacher Raul Erdel (designer) on a part time basis. Specialty filed training is instructed by craftsman Annes Hermann who specializes in furniture restoration.
Short descriptions of the specialty subjects in the curriculum
Furniture design and restoration speciality (PDF)