The History of Furniture Design

Furniture design is defined as fashioning goods for seating or storage from raw materials. Within this broad definition, humans have been designing furniture since they first placed rocks near the fire pit for the express purpose of sitting.
Design by definition, though, implies the creation of an object that is not only functional but aesthetically pleasing. The concept of form follows function is a mantra among furniture designers, and for good reason. The rock can function as seating, but it is the form that ultimately turns function into comfort.

History

Skara brae, located in Orkney, Scotland, is a Neolithic village, dating from around 3000 B.C. The dwellings in this preserved village are basic shelters decorated with arranged rocks and fire pits. By the fire pit, there were one or two flat-sided rocks. These are the first easy chairs.
During the Early Dynastic Period, circa 3100 to 2680 B.C., the Egyptians fashioned bed frames from wood. The earliest of these frames were put together using notches in the legs in which the corners of the frame were laid. In later examples, tenon joints were used.

Time Frame

From 1570 to 1320 B.C., Egyptian furniture went beyond function and exhibited signs of design. Headrests, used for sleeping, were curved to cradle the neck and were decorated with relevant symbols.
In Greece, circa 440 B.C., the four-legged stool became popular. These were made from wood, with the legs sporting hoof-like feet. The seating was constructed from woven rushes.
The technique of wood turning, that is, moving the wood beneath the blade to create shapes, showed up during the time of the Roman Empire. Couches or sofas were seen in upper society homes. These were ornate and used cushioning for comfort.

Effects

Furniture makers in these early centuries were low on the social scale; craftsmen were often slaves or servants. During the Middle Ages, as organizations such as guilds began to take root in societies, craftsmen moved up a few notches, and ultimately became artisans. The artisans' designs, however, were not attributed to them by name. The idea of identifying a particular style of furniture to its designer came about in 1754, with the publication of Thomas Chippendale's pattern book, "The Gentleman and Cabinet-Maker's Director." The designer as brand name was born.

Function

Furniture designers of the 18th century fulfill the same role as those in the 21st. They design furniture for use by the consumer. They draw from the past, refashioning concepts that work well into new designs.
The English cabinet-maker Thomas Chippendale did not invent the chair. He drew from the style of the previous era, that of the Queen Anne, and reworked it. He lowered the back to change the proportions. He drew from French and Chinese influences to market to the growing interest in these cultures. He translated these new characteristics to other furnishings such as sofas and cabinets.
Chippendale became a designer brand of furniture. Everyone of importance in England, and abroad, wanted a Chippendale in their homes.

Significance

The trend continued with Hepplewhite and Sheraton. These two British designers followed in the now notable footsteps of Chippendale and created lines of furniture that could be marketed as their brand of furnishings.
Furniture design also became the purview of such notable architects as Frank Lloyd Wright. Architects often designed the interiors of homes; interior designers were the equivalent of assistants. As interior designing became a separate industry, so did furniture design.

Identification

Furniture designs are still more often assigned to styles than names, and names such as Chippendale have become synonymous with a specific style.
In the 1950s, furniture design took a decidedly different approach. Designers needed to fulfill the needs of the millions of young couples that were setting up housekeeping on a budget. Furniture was designed for mass manufacturing; it was made from inexpensive materials and form was simple, sleek and without the inlays, scrollwork and detail that had been characteristic of furniture since the 13th century. The style was called Modern, and is still known by that name.
Whether a chair is made from plastic, wood or leather, it is still a chair and serves as such. Furniture designers are faced with considering all the styles that have come before to create a new look. Whatever form they may design though, their design must still function as furniture.