Лесотехнически Университет

Резюме

Competition in the educational field today brought awareness of the need of change in the manner of teaching and knowledge acquisition. It is clear that the university, as an educational and scientific institution, should follow and answer the demands of society for highly qualified and self-confident young professionals. The University of Forestry in Sofia introduced a new study module, called Project Week, in the regular curriculum for Engineering Design Bachelor Program. The module aims at increasing the skills and competence of students and preparing them for their future professional career. The paper presents the results of our experience from the past two years from the students’ point of view. Inquiries were held with the participants, students of 3^rd year of study. The authors of this paper put the accent on the expectations and results of this new form of teaching.

The final results are an indicator of work done and give us the guidelines for future development towards improving the manner and conditions of work.

Резюме

The paper is focused on a tendency, clearly defined these last years, of the application of knitting technique in furniture design. Traditions and contemporary knitting techniques are researched, as well as materials used. Analysis is made of their implementation in furniture. A number of examples are researched in an attempt to classify the application of knitwear in different furniture types, their function, as well as the most often used techniques and materials. By means of selection, classification, visual identification and comparative morphologic analysis, the potential of this technique is revealed.

Резюме

The article represents a unique view at how the “Engineering Design (Interior and Furniture Design)” Program developed from its inception to the present times. The authors of the article hold a Master Degree in Engineer Design from the first cohort; later, they defended their PhD thesis in the same field. Nowadays, they act in the position of Lecturers, training students of the same Program. All of this gives a unique look at the various achievements and problems that have arisen during the Design Program's development period. Aspects such as the kind of studied courses, teaching methods, facilities, opportunity for creative expression, and students' career prospects are considered. For better objectivity, the opinion of other alumni who graduated the Program over the years has been studied.

Резюме

This article discusses the practical application of the Method of Focal Objects in the learning process of students in the Engineering Design (Interior and Furniture Design) Program at the University of Forestry, Sofia, Bulgaria. The experiment has been conducted in studied course Innovative and Strategic Design with the students of the first course from the Master Degree Program. The experiment's main objective is to examine what influence the Method has on students' creativity. The methodology of the experimental conducting of the Method and the way of work have been described. Based on the obtained results, analyses have been made for the Method's application in students' learning process to develop their non-standard and analytical thinking.

Резюме

In the article, a rarely mentioned in publications furniture type is considered: the tripod. The functional and symbolic meaning of this ancient artefact are researched aiming at revealing its role for the emergence of other furniture types in the XVIII^th, XIX^th and XX^th C because of the Antique Vogue and the trend for commodity search. Such objects, as stands, tables, trays, tea-tables, etc., are considered. In the process of this research, the role of this ancient archetype is revealed for the creation of modern products with a folding tripod structure, e.g., portable stools, tables, stands, etc.

Резюме

The report examines a growing phenomenon: (sport) exercising at home. The reasons for the ever-wider spread of this, can be found in the consequences of the Covid pandemic, but also in the changed everyday culture of society (including the digital revolution and the possibilities for remote work).

The purpose of the research is to track the current needs and appropriate solutions in the creation of sports areas in small spaces, or in zones not originally meant for exercising processes. Comparative analysis and survey research are used.

The expected outcomes are in the fields of design theory, contemporary design and architecture.

Резюме

The aim of this study is to propose methods on research and analysis of interior spaces, by the means of sensor systems. The authors suggest quantitative observation of movement without other feedback from the occupant. The method is based on a system of sensors and technical solutions that was developed by the authors and is described in a patent with reg.№ 3895 U1 with authors Pavlina Vodenova, Desislava Angelova and Stela Tasheva.

The proposal is meant to look into the dissatisfied and/or unanticipated in the environment project needs of the occupants and based on the data analysis, to offer optimization models.

Резюме

The object of the present article is a summary of Students’ Work Diaries, prepared by every team participating in the Project-Based Learning Module (PBLM) called Design Project, a study module of the Engineering Design (Interior and Furniture Design) Bachelor Program.

The following questions related to the diaries are considered in the article: Are students paying enough attention to these diaries as a tool to present their work? To what extent is the submitted information sincere and complete? Are students’ work diaries an effective way of grading each students’ teamwork and the individual members?

Based on the analysis made of students’ diaries from Design Project module in four successive years, conclusions and recommendations are made. The aim is to improve the requirements for the preparation of student diaries, so that teachers can use them for grading the work done by teams and their individual members.

Резюме

The curriculum in the "Engineering Design (Interior and Furniture Design)" Bachelor program has frequently changed over the years regarding how and what kind of study modules are taught. In the 2020-2021 academic year, the teaching staff was presented with another novelty – the transition to full-time virtual training in practical design and purely artistic disciplines.

In the context of introducing a new virtual education modality, the new teachers in the department decided to leverage the moment and test innovative ways of working that are widely applicable in their practices and were formerly introduced in their design training in foreign universities. Their approach was based on integrating design thinking with the traditional approach used in the program to bridge two separate study modules from the curriculum – "Graphic Design" and "Furniture Design for Public Spaces". In the process, the assistant professors introduced a few new tools, principles, and perspectives, all with the idea of raising the level of engagement and practical fieldwork experience among students, taking advantage of the positive aspects of working in a virtual environment.