Design Technician [CAD]
Will is a CAD (Computer Aided Design) Designer at Barnwood Shopfitting
I help transform empty buildings into shops, taking designs from architects and turning them into detailed construction drawings. Our joinery team then uses these to build displays, shelves, cabinets and counters for shops. The construction drawings are essential as they show the team how to cut and assemble all the parts to make the finished product.
I love being part of the full process. There’s something really satisfying about seeing a job go from an empty shell to a finished shop. The best bit is the drawing. I take a designer’s sketch and work out how to make it real – which bits go where, how it all fits together and the most efficient way to build it. It’s like solving a puzzle. It feels great to be able to look at something and know that I figured out and planned how it was made.
Attention to detail is really important. We work in millimetres, so if something’s off by even 10mm, it can really mess things up and cause problems for our joiners. I also use communication and problem-solving all the time. If something doesn’t quite work or I don’t understand it, I ask questions or speak to someone who’s done it before. I’ve learnt that no one knows everything, and that it’s important you are willing to ask questions.
There are seven of us in the CAD department and about fourteen people altogether in the office team. Everyone gets on well and there’s a good mix of ages and experience.
Most of us have worked our way up from the bench in the workshop, so there’s loads of shared knowledge and experience of working as a joiner too. If I ever get stuck on something, I know there’s always someone I can ask who’s seen it before.
We’ve started using a new 3D scanner for site surveys. You walk it around a room and it creates a virtual 3D model of the space, like a 3D drawing. It’s way faster and more accurate than taking lots of measurements by hand. We then use that model in Revit, our 3D drawing program.
It takes longer to build things in 3D than it does using 2D software, but it gives a clearer picture of what we’re building. The shop owners can see exactly how everything will look, it’s so much easier than looking at a technical drawing.
I love mountain biking and getting out in the woods on my bike. I also play tennis and five-a-side football once a week and spend time with my family too. I used to be into skateboarding and Lego as a kid – I’ve always liked building things and pulling them apart again.
Graphics was my favourite subject at school. I knew early on that I preferred practical, hands-on work. Even though I chose to do A-levels, I was already thinking about doing an apprenticeship instead of going to university. School helped me realise what kind of work I enjoyed most.
The most exciting moment was when I was given my first full job to manage on my own. Before that I was doing smaller parts, but this time I was trusted to handle everything, from start to finish. That meant I had to think about every stage – from drawings to materials to making sure it all worked. It felt great to be given that responsibility and to know I was ready for it.
People might not realise how much goes on before anything is built. We don’t just draw something and pass it on. We break down every item into bits, order all the materials, and create detailed instructions so the team can build things, like a giant flat-pack kit. Without all of that prep work, nothing would fit together properly.
I want to keep developing my skills with 3D design. More shop owners are asking for 3D views because they can understand them more easily and it’s easier to visualise the space, so I’d like to get even better at producing those.
If you’re thinking about an apprenticeship, start looking early. Don’t wait around just because everyone else is going to university. If I could do it again, I’d spend more time at school researching all the options so I could get started sooner.
Discover what qualifications you’ll need, how much you can earn, and what the next steps are.
