Лесотехнически Университет

Summary

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.

Summary

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.

Summary

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.

Summary

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.

Summary

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.

Summary

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.