It all began in Transition Year. Karla White, a student at Sutton Park School, had a "marvellous teacher" called Paddy O'Shea who taught her woodwork. "It was basic stuff, pine and screws," she recalls but it was enough to spark an interest that was to become a career.

Those searching for Karla in pre-Leaving Cert days could be sure of finding her in the woodwork or art rooms. "One day, Paddy O'Shea handed me a poster for the furniture college in Letterfrack. Two years later, I had been down there and had done an interview."

Having completed a certificate in furniture-making in Letterfrack, Co Galway, she went to work making contract furniture in Salisbury, Wiltshire. It was batch production of steam-bent timber furniture, she says. Two years later, she wanted to leave the bench and concentrate on design.

"That's where I find my forte is." So it was back to college. This time, to DIT Mountjoy Square where she got a place in the second year of the degree in furniture and interior design. She enthuses about the course where she spent a lot of time at the drawing board and computers, designing and researching. There was also lots of model and prototype making, she adds.

"I love making the prototypes but it can be tough in a college situation where workshop facilities vary. To get metalwork, I had to go to Bolton Street and to Linenhall for veneering."

Karla graduated this summer and says she has no regrets about going back to college. "It was absolutely worthwhile coming back. They encourage you to develop your own philosophy of design. You work very much on your own with tutors there if you want to talk to them."

Karla's written thesis focused on the Irish furniture production market from the 1960s to date. A lot of the furniture being produced in Ireland is very traditional reproduction-type furniture. Companies must recognise innovative design, she says.

Complementing this thesis, she designed three ranges of furniture and made one piece from each range. "All of the pieces are geared towards production. They are known-down flatpack." The beech dining chair, the bedside table and the storage unit (a modern version of a chest for the end of the bed) are flanked by an unusual cabinet. The brief for the cabinet was to choose an object of desire and to display it. "I inherited a spoon collection from an aunt," she says, as she opens the cabinet to display drawers with no handles. A built-in network of steel rods allows the drawers to be opened from underneath.

Her work and that of her fellow students was displayed in their graduation show which is visited by prospective employers among others. Karla was offered a job with McCabe Design Consultants who do exhibition and contract work. She is enthused about the job offer although she begins work almost immediately after leaving college. Richard Whelan, lecturer in furniture design, explains that the degree in furniture and interior design was introduced last year. It evolved from the college's advanced diploma in environmental design.

Admission to the course is via a combination of portfolio assessment and Leaving Certificate results. There is also a provision for mature students and those with industrial experience.

The first year of the course is general, says Whelan. "In second year students begin to choose their area of specialisation - opting for the interior design or the furniture route. Students continue to specialise in third year while fourth year students work on final projects and their thesis. We try to train students with an emphasis on design rather than craft although craftwork is very important."

Each year is divided into theory of design and studio practice. In addition, students do contextual studies including psychology, philosophy, history of art and design and languages. Theory of design includes technology, methodology and process of design, professional practice and business studies. Studio practice involves the analysis, exploration and application of design theory.

Whelan says the interior design specialism covers the structural and technical side as well as the aesthetic. "It is not just about choosing fabrics," he streses.

The course should be of interest to anyone wanting to pursue a career as a creative designer in the areas of interior design, exhibition design, theatre and TV set design and furniture/product design.