Wood Working

Subject Description

Wood, along with stone, mud and animal parts, was one of the first materials used by primitive humans. Since that time its use has changed and expanded but the challenges of working with varying fibre, grain, hardness and fragility have remained.

As a contemporary artistic medium wood crosses both traditional and modern boundaries; largely due to its natural versatility it is an ideal material to create with.  Wood is used in all manner of guises from creating a book shelf to an elaborate sculpture, jewellery to salad bowls.  The attraction of this material is not simply its adaptability, but also the manner in which the complexity of the grain can make an object very aesthetically pleasing, incorporating natural beauty, texture and intricacy.

The study of woodworking at degree level is always combined with other elements. These can come in the form of courses relating to applied arts or courses developed around using three-dimensional materials.  Courses aim to develop both practical and theoretic skills from design through to making.  They often incorporate large elements of self-directed study, allowing courses to become very individually tailored.  You will be encouraged to challenge conventional design, question preconceptions about your chosen material and its qualities and function, and create objects, art and products that inspire.

Courses cover a broad range of areas such as jewellery, furniture, sculpture, lighting and batch production, and students will often benefit from exposure to leading specialists in these areas.  It is also not uncommon for courses to be offered as undergraduate degrees with an automatic one-year extension to achieve a Master's degree

Example Areas of Study

Because woodworking is always studied as an element of a wider syllabus when studied at degree level, you will need to check with your preferred institution directly to find out the exact subjects you will be studying.  Common subjects covered include:

• Batch production methods
• Jewellery
• Furniture
• Expressive or functional object
• The cultural artefact
• Visual research and communication
• CAD/CAM
• Professional business practice
• Historical/critical studies
• Workshop practice
• Machine and hand skills
• Jointing, framing and traditional techniques
• Using pine, oak and mahogany

Some Career Possibilities

What you study woodworking in combination with will shape your career path. However, frequently graduates have set up their own workshops, exhibited nationally and internationally and sold designs/entered into product development for high-street furniture retailers. There are also a number of wider opportunities such as working for film set designers, or becoming technical assistants for television or for sculptors.  Architecture and museums and galleries also often have positions for skilled woodworkers. As well as the practical applications there are also opportunities for further study with a broad range of further education courses offered in specialist skills or working within a particular sector.

What do I need to get on a Course?

Entry requirements vary from course to course so you will need to check with your preferred institution to get up-to-date information on the requirements they have for entry.  To give you a general idea of what is expected please see below:

• UCAS Tariff: 160 points
• A-Levels: CC
• SQA Advanced Highers: BBC
• Irish Leaving Certificates: BBBB
• International Baccalaureate: By individual consideration
• BTEC: MPP-DMM
• Foundation Degree: Art Foundation Course
• Access course: Art Foundation diploma or Access to High Education
• Mature Entry: By Individual consideration
• Minimum requirement of 4 GCSEs A-C grades
• Some courses will expect students to have a portfolio

For your application or Interview, the following may be useful:

• For news, information and articles: Wood Working and Get Wood Working

To find out more about the typical subjects you will study, potential career paths and further information useful for your application log-on to Course Discover at www.coursediscoveronline.co.uk*

*NB: Your school or college will need a subscription to Course Discover in order for you to gain access, for further information go to:www.coursediscover.co.uk