Department of Design

The Department of Design dates back to 1972, the year when Prof. Dirhan launched a study of Industrial Design at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering UT (University of Technology) Košice. Autonomous Department of Design was established at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering TU in 1990. In 1998, the department relevantly contributed to the establishment the Faculty of Applied Arts TU. The department offers undergraduate (Bc. - Bachelor degree) and graduate (Ing. = MSc. - Master degree) programmes in the field of “Design”.

The aim of the study is to enhance a creative initiative in students and to deliver knowledge in the sphere of shaping, project development, design and history of art. In a graduate study programme students have a possibility to choose from courses such as the product design, design of utility structures, industrial products, visual communications, new media and design in architecture. Graduates acquire knowledge and methods in the field of construction, manufacture technology, materials, ergonomics, ecology, web design, visualization and electronic publishing. They are capable of a creative co-operation with constructors, architects and marketing agencies. The potential employers vary from the design practice in business area, marketing and advisory services, to teaching at high schools and universities.

The department took part at exhibitions at the Design Biennial in Saint-Étienne 1998, 2000 and 2002, and exhibited in Prague (1997), Wuppertal (1998, 2003), Radom (2001), Budapest (2002), in Košice and other places in Slovakia. Via Socrates/Erasmus programme the department offers scholarships at foreign universities in Wuppertal, Wismar and Linc. In co-operation with U.S.Steel Košice Company, the department also regularly prepares creative work-shops called “Inspirations in metal”.

The department co-operates with Slovak Design Center, Slovak Technical Museum, as well as design departments in Slovak Universities and in abroad (in Bratislava, Zvolen, Brno – Czech Republic, Wuppertal, Wismar - FRG, Linz – Austria, Krakow, Radom – Poland, Paris - France).

The department provides complete design services for industry and participate on development of technician policy and popularisation good design in public, by means of exhibitions, professional seminars and mass media in Slovak Republic.

department of Design