Final answer:
A furniture designer is the career dedicated to designing new pieces of furniture, drawing on traditional woodworking techniques and utilizing a variety of wood types to create both functional and decorative items.
Step-by-step explanation:
The career that involves designing new pieces of furniture is that of a furniture designer. While architects design buildings and oversee their construction, and construction workers are responsible for constructing buildings or other structures, it is the furniture designer who specializes in creating original and functional furniture pieces. Historical preservationists work to protect and preserve buildings and artifacts of historical significance but do not typically design furniture.
In the context of history, cabinetmakers during the colonial era became skilled artisans creating bespoke furniture that catered to the demands of the time. Employing woodworking techniques like dovetails and mortise and tenon joints, they crafted pieces influenced by English and French designs. The natural resources available provided a variety of woods such as walnut, oak, pine, and maple, which these craftsmen shaped into both simple and ornate furniture.
As society advanced through the 18th century and beyond, so did the furniture industry. With the industrial revolution came mass production, but the intricacy and unique quality of hand-crafted furniture by cabinetmakers or modern-day furniture designers remained highly valued.