Joineries & Junctions Online Course
Course Overview
This course is designed to help designers and learners deepen their understanding of furniture design, with a special emphasis on joinery. Using sketches and drawings over live images, the process of decoding and understanding furniture construction is simplified and made accessible to all.
The main focus is on chairs, which are considered the most complex pieces of furniture because they must respond to and support a wide range of human postures. By the end of the course, participants will feel confident and empowered to analyze and decode joineries in furniture images and apply these insights to their own design practice.
Open to All – No prerequisites required
Hosted by: Architect & Furniture Designer Poonam Rathore
Online (Live Session)
Duration: 1 hr 30 min
Fee: Rs. 5000/-
What You’ll Learn
Module 1: Understanding Basic Wooden Joineries
In this session, participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of wooden joineries through sketches, drawings, and real-life examples. The focus is on building a strong foundation in joinery, recognizing their applications, and avoiding common pitfalls.
Joineries Covered:
- Tenon & Mortise – basics and common mistakes to avoid
- Finger Joint – strength and uses
- Rebate Joint – simple yet effective edge joinery
- Dovetail Joint – precision and interlocking strength
- Half Lap Joint – versatility in framing and structure
Module 2: Case Study – Live Edge Table
In this session, participants will explore the design and construction of a Live Edge Table. The focus will be on understanding how different joineries are applied in both drawings and the making process. By analyzing sketches and structural details, learners will gain clarity on how complex joints bring strength, stability, and beauty to furniture.
Joineries Covered:
- Dovetail Bridle Joint – strength and visual appeal
- Double Tenon – enhancing load-bearing capacity
- Half Lap Joint – stability in broad surfaces
- Butterfly Joint – functional joinery and decorative detail
- Exposed Tenon with Key – aesthetic and structural significance
Module 3: Special Joinery – Sam Maloof Chair Joint
This session is dedicated to studying the iconic Sam Maloof Chair Joint, a signature woodworking technique celebrated for its sculptural strength and seamless integration. Participants will learn how this complex joinery not only enhances the durability of chairs but also elevates them into works of functional art.
Through sketches, examples, and detailed breakdowns, learners will gain insight into how Maloof’s approach can inspire modern furniture design.
Module 4: Case Study – 10 Wooden Chairs
In this session, participants will analyze 10 different wooden chairs to understand the diversity of joinery techniques used in furniture design. Each chair will serve as a case study, with sketches and drawings used to highlight how joineries solve structural challenges while shaping aesthetics and comfort.
Learners will leave with the ability to decode joineries in real-world furniture, sharpening their observation and design skills.
FAQs
What will I learn in this workshop?
You will learn how to identify and understand furniture joineries, decode furniture construction through drawings and photographs, and gain a deeper understanding of how furniture components connect, transfer loads, and contribute to structural strength.
Who is this workshop for?
This workshop is ideal for furniture designers, interior designers, architects, design students, woodworking enthusiasts, and anyone interested in understanding how furniture is designed and built. No prior experience is required.
How will this workshop help me in my design practice?
The workshop will help you make better furniture design decisions, communicate more effectively with craftsmen and manufacturers, and develop a sharper eye for analyzing furniture details and construction techniques.
Is this a live workshop and how are the dates scheduled?
Yes, this is a live online workshop. Since it is conducted on an on-demand basis, there are no fixed batch dates. Workshop dates and timings are finalized after discussing availability with interested participants.
Register for the Workshop
This is an On-Demand Online Workshop