Student Experience - Furniture

Luke Staples – Furniture Design and Making Level 3

“I started out studying Motor Vehicle Engineering, however when I saw the furniture workshops at the College I began to change my career direction. I was inspired by a huge, wooden table which I saw being made in the workshop, and I applied for the course.

My Dad is a carpenter and I work with him and my brother in his workshop, so my creative nature definitely runs in the family. I find that I learn so much better in a practical environment and decided that A-Levels were not the route I wanted to go down. I am not an academic sort of person and don’t enjoy sitting in a classroom, so I really enjoy my course as I am able to learn while going through the motions. The course is hands-on and creative, which really suites my learning style.

My favourite project has been the ash table I worked on last year, as I was able to get to grips with some real woodwork which I really enjoyed. I am currently working on a walnut vanity cabinet, which is another exciting material to work with. When I leave college I already have a job to move on to, at a bespoke wooden furniture company called Shaker of Malvern.”