A unique and comprehensive resource for student and professional furniture designers, providing in-depth answers to their questions about aesthetics, function, materials, manufacturing and sustainability. In this second edition Stuart Lawson emphasizes the principles of a circular economy and what this means for furniture design and consumption. He considers the latest technological developments such as 3-D printing and the use of innovative materials such as bioplastics. He also examines the capabilities and potential of CAD-based design optimization, AI and machine learning-driven generative design processes. The book features case studies on pioneering, contemporary and historical designers and includes an illustrated directory of materials and manufacturing processes.