Case Study: Varian Designs achieves faster, cheaper design-to-manufacturing with VectorWorks

Giving Shape to Sculptural Dreams

Varian Designs is a San Francisco–based boutique furniture studio founded in 2008 by Forest Dickey that produces handcrafted, heirloom-quality chairs, desks and tables. Operating from an 8,000 sq ft shared workshop, the company needed to balance bespoke craftsmanship and sustainable material sourcing with faster, repeatable production and stronger client visualization to win custom commissions and expand its product lines.

To streamline design and manufacture, Varian adopted Vectorworks for sketch-to-3D modeling and Renderworks for client presentations, then exported files to a local 5‑axis CNC—cutting an iPad pocket in 10 minutes versus three hours by hand. The combined digital-to-physical workflow reduced costs and lead times, preserved the studio’s artisanal quality, helped land high-profile exposure (including NBC’s Parks and Recreation), and supported 14 made-to-order designs across three collections while enabling continued growth.

Varian Designs

Forest Dickey

Founder and Lead Designer