3D Printing in the Learning Process of Furniture Design

The development of technology is going fast and cannot be avoided. 3D printing technology exists that is capable of printing objects that are exactly the same as the soft file image in three-dimensional form. The existence of this technology affects the design work process. The learning for students in design has long used work patterns with hand-drawn sketches and creating the design manually, however technology has changed the design work since a few years ago that began with the use of design software. By the advance of 3D printing, students as potential designers can use this technology to develop spatial abilities in the creative process of design. The extent to which the design work process with technology can improve student's spatial ability and change design work patterns from manual to digital design. This research illustrates that 3D printing can make sustainable changes in the design process in increasing creativity and productivity, although the manual work process is still a component in design learning. The descriptive-analytic method with a phenomenological approach is used by observing the furniture design process by students using 3D printing. The formation of the pattern of student work by using this technology produces a new work culture.