Furniture Design & Woodworking
Code: W0312-21
-
II
Level II
Students have experience working with stationary machines and power tools and are familiar with basic principles of joinery and 3-D design.
-
III
Level III
Students have some formal training in 3-D design, experience with a variety of materials and fabrication processes, and know how to use machine and hand tools competently and safely. Students have a portfolio of their artwork.
Coopering Methods and Techniques
Jun 21 - 25, 2021
9AM-5PM
Concept
Coopering, the traditional craft of making barrels, buckets and all forms of wooden storage containers, is used widely in contemporary furniture design as both a functional and sculptural technique. This workshop covers the basics of coopering, detailing various methods, techniques and forms from a sculptural standpoint. Leave the right angles behind and embrace the possibilities of adding curvature to wooden forms as we address the different uses and potentialities of this traditional method of woodworking.
Media & Techniques
Solid wood, gluing techniques, sanding and finishing
Supply ListFaculty
Kate Casey
Kate Casey is the founder of Peg Woodworking, a Brooklyn-based design studio that is female run and operated. She completed her undergraduate education at Massachusetts College of Art and Design and the Yale Norfolk School of Art and is an alumnus of the Center of Furniture Craftsmanship intensive program.
Kate Casey, Cleo Wall Sconce
Join Waitlist for Coopering Methods and Techniques
Thank you for your interest in the waitlist. When space in a workshop or program becomes available, registration will open on the website. Everyone on the waitlist will be emailed to alert them of the opening. This ensures that everyone has an equal opportunity to register for the workshop or program.
Furniture Design & Woodworking
The Furniture Design & Woodworking program at Anderson Ranch draws upon the world of studio furniture, but pushes the boundaries of woodworking by mixing contemporary and traditional techniques and incorporating alternative materials. Anderson Ranch offers an inspiring range of workshops for all levels in topics such as cabinetry, wood bending, kinetics and carving.
The Maloof Wood Barn, divided into a machine room, assembly room, and bench room, provides participants the ideal workshop for realizing technical and creative goals. The machine room houses stationary equipment including SawStop table saws, jointers, planers, bandsaws, drill presses, edge sander, disk sander, drum sander, spindle sander, radial arm saw, chop saw, router table and multi-router. In the assembly and bench rooms, a library of clamps, hand tools, and hand-held power tools line the walls for student use to complete their woodworking projects.
The Furniture Society and Anderson Ranch are partnering this year to offer a scholarship for one BIPOC applicant to attend a workshop for the 2025 summer season. This opportunity includes tuition for a one-week workshop, room and board for a Furniture Design and Wood workshop, and a 1‑year membership to The Furniture Society. CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
Anderson Ranch is happy to extend a tuition discount* in summer one- or two-week adult furniture design and woodworking workshops** for Furniture Society members at the student membership level or above. Please email reg@
Workshop Details
Workshop Supplies
For general information about studio access, shipping, and more, please visit our info page.
If you have any questions regarding your supplies for your workshop, please contact Lane Preston, [email protected].
Lodging & Meals
Housing is limited and includes shared and private lodging options. Reservations will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you reserve housing, the better your chance of receiving your preferred option. Please note: Workshop costs do not include accommodations.
NEW: Tuition includes a welcome dinner and lunches. In our effort to foster a stronger sense of community and accessibility at Anderson Ranch, we include the welcome dinner and all lunches as part of the tuition for summer workshop students. Our hope is that this adjustment will encourage all students to come together to share meals and engage in meaningful conversations. The Ranch Café Meal Plan, which is included with Room and Board fees, strives to provide healthy, creative meals that will nourish your artistic creativity. Learn more.
We have established a Business Safety Plan with added layers of precaution that prioritize the health and safety of our staff, students, faculty and guests while continuing to provide you with the Anderson Ranch experience that you know and enjoy.
Scholarships, College Credit & Discounts
Making Art Accessible
Applications for scholarship support are encouraged. Specific scholarships are funded by Ranch supporters, either through endowed funds or special gifts.
Many colleges and universities offer college credit for workshops taken at Anderson Ranch. Discounts are available for students and teachers.
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
I
Level I
Students are new to Furniture Design & Woodworking and have no formal training.
Jun 30 - Jul 4, 2025
9AM-5PM
Introduction to Furniture Design
Brad Reed Nelson
Tuition $1,240
Code W0505-25
This beginners workshop focuses on introducing and demystifying the world of woodworking. Arriving with designs in mind, students spend the week making basic stools and small tables, learning how to make their designs come to life. Students learn how to operate and understand the machinery, focusing on safety and craftsmanship. At the end students leave with beautiful, personalized, well-built furniture that will stand the test of time.
-
I
Level I
Students are new to Furniture Design & Woodworking and have no formal training.
Jul 14 - 18, 2025
9AM-5PM
Beginning Furniture Design
Lane Preston
Tuition $1,240
Code W0715-25
This beginner's workshop focuses on introducing and demystifying the world of woodworking. Arriving with designs in mind, students spend the week making basic stools and small tables, learning how to make their designs come to life. Students learn how to operate and understand the machinery, focusing on safety and craftsmanship. At the end students leave with beautiful, personalized, well-built furniture that will stand the test of time.
-
O
Open to All
Students of any skill and knowledge level.
Jul 21 - 25, 2025
9AM-5PM
Sculptural Lighting Design with Biomaterials
Adrien Segal, Fiona Bell
Tuition $1,240
Code W0807-25
In this workshop, students design and make custom sculptural lighting. We create a hanging pendant or table-top lamp from a combination of wood and other translucent biomaterials such as bioplastics, paper, bark, or found materials. We discuss media experimentation, shadow play, surface patterns, texturing, and luminosity with an emphasis on exploring how material interacts with light. Students gain experience making biomaterials and employ creative woodworking skills, and each student creates an illuminating sculptural wood lamp that they can take home.