Departmental Description – what we do

  • We train professionals who are able to apply themselves in the fields of furniture design, development, production and research in both the domestic and international market. We focus on developing their creative thinking, their technical skills and their knowledge of the latest trends and technologies in the furniture industry.
  • We participate in several scientific research projects focused on practical applications in the fields of furniture materials, development and production. Our collaborations include partnerships with furniture companies, research institutions and universities, allowing us to combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience.
  • We carry out research, testing and consultancy in the fields of furniture finishes and other interior elements, aiming at innovation and quality improvement. We test different types of coatings and laminates to ensure their durability and resistance to scratches, moisture, UV rays and more.
  • We assess the quality of the indoor environment, including determination of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and olfactometric assessment (odour) of materials used in interiors. Our analyses focus on identifying and measuring emissions that could affect the health and comfort of indoor occupants.
  • Our Department includes an accredited Furniture Testing Facility with specialised equipment designed to test and evaluate the quality and durability of furniture products and finishes. It is equipped with technologies and instruments that allow us to perform tests in accordance with international standards.
  • We carry out research and development of new eco-friendly materials and modification of existing materials for the furniture industry. Our goal is to design sustainable and innovative materials that minimise environmental impact while enhancing the quality and functionality of furniture products. Our work also includes the development of product life cycle analyses.

Background – where we work

  • Building T on the university campus – houses the main facilities for scientific work and teaching, especially studio and laboratory work and software programming and 3D printing. This building also houses the offices for all Department teachers.         
  • The Computer Laboratory in Building T provides a space where product and interior designs can be transformed into digital form and where students and designers can develop complex projects, create realistic visualisations and prepare professional presentations of their designs.
  • The 3D Printing Centre in Building T is used by students and staff to create working models for term and final projects. Students can experiment with different materials and printing techniques, thereby expanding their skills and knowledge in a practical area.
  • The Furniture Testing Room in Building T provides specialised equipment designed to test and evaluate the quality and durability of furniture products. It is equipped with all technologies and instruments required to perform a wide range of tests in accordance with international standards.
  • Building B on the university campus – houses facilities for teaching theoretical subjects and subjects provided by our partner Woodworking Department.
  • Building P on the University campus – houses the Creative Studio, which is equipped with everything needed to create furniture or interior models, including various woodworking machines and a large industrial CO2 CNC laser with three modules (laser, milling machine, cutting knives).
  • Two laboratories are located in Building P, the first being the Indoor Environmental Quality Laboratory, which deals with determination of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and olfactometric assessment (odour) of materials used in interiors, and the second equipped with paint impactors and a new conical calorimeter.
  • The Mendel Design Lab is a new state-of-the-art space designed for student lectures and exhibitions that provides an inspiring environment for creative work, meetings and discussions. The Lab serves as a dynamic hub where students can share ideas, present projects and receive feedback from practitioners, educators and fellow students.

Cooperation – we are not alone

  • The Department has a long-standing partnership with industry, ensuring that its academic and scientific activities are aligned with current trends and industry standards. This collaborative approach ensures that the level of research projects and teaching meets the highest international standards. We believe it is vital to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with long-term partners from a range of sectors, including companies, associations, municipalities, museums and institutions, as neither quality science nor teaching would be possible without such international cooperation.
List of companies, associations and clusters
  • TON a.s., tradiční výrobce ohýbaného nábytku
  • AHORN CZ, s.r.o. – výrobce postelových roštů
  • ATAK design – designové a interiérové studio
  • Kyzlink architects – architektonické studio
  • HANÁK NÁBYTEK, a.s. – výroba nábytku
  • HON a.s. – výrobce kancelářského nábytku
  • FORM, spol. s r.o. – výrobce designového kancelářského nábytku
  • NADOP-VÝROBA NÁBYTKU, a.s. – výrobce nábytku na míru
  • BLANÁŘ NÁBYTEK, a.s.- výrobce sedacího a lůžkového nábytku
  • DŘEVODÍLO Rousínov , výrobní družstvo – výroba zakázkového nábytku
  • Dřevojas, výrobní družstvo – výrobce koupelnového nábytku
  • SAPELI, a. s. – Největší výrobce dveří v ČR
  • Bakof group s.r.o. – výroba atypického nábytku do prodejních prostor
  • Dřevotvar družstvo – výrobce nábytku
  • JELÍNEK – výroba nábytku s.r.o. – výroba masivního nábytku a matrací
  • Iktus, s.r.o. – výrobce nábytku
  • LD seating s.r.o., – výrobce sedacího a čalouněného nábytku
  • ADLER Česko s.r.o. – výrobce nátěrových látek pro dřevo a nábytek
  • Dýhy Večeřa, s.r.o. – prodejce dýhových listů a sesazenek
  • Sherwin – Williams Czech Republic, spol. s r.o. – výrobce nátěrových látek
  • ŠPINAR – software s.r.o. – programové vybavení pro konstruování ve 2D a 3D
  • Klastr českých nábytkářů
  • Asociace českých nábytkářů
  • Asociace interiérové tvorby
  • ČESKÝ KONOPNÝ KLASTR, Z.S.
  • Komora znalců ČR
  • Komora českých architektů
List of international partners
  • Slovenská technická univerzita v Bratislavě, Slovensko
  • Vysoká škola výtvarných umění v Bratislavě, Slovensko
  • Technická univerzita ve Zvolenu, Slovensko
  • Univerzity of Sopron, Maďarko
  • Applied Sciences, Kouvola, Finsko
  • University of Zagreb, Chorvatsko
  • University of Life Sciences, Poznaň, Polsko
  • University of Arts in Poznań, Polsko
  • University of Ljubljana, Slovinsko
  • Ecole Superieure D’Art Et Design De Saint-Etienne, Francie
  • Purdue University, USA
  • Linnaeus University, Švédsko
  • University of Bologna, Itálie
  • ETH Zürich – Switzerland / Luleå University of Technology – Švédsko
  • BOKU University Vienna – Rakousko
  • Poznań University of Life Sciences – Polsko
  • University of Forestry – Bulharsko
  • Karadeniz Technical University – Turecko
  • InnoRenew CoE – Slovinsko
  • Transilvania” University of Brasov – Rumunsko
  • HEMPWOOD, USA

Departmental staff – who we are

The Department’s staff are a highly diverse group, contributing to a rich environment for innovation in science, technology and education. This creative environment is dedicated to integrating new colleagues from diverse backgrounds, whether from commercial companies, students or international researchers. These individuals play an integral role in the team, contributing to the Department’s success.

doc. Ing. Milan Gaff, Ph.D.
Academic staff – Associate Professor – Department of Design and Furniture
Head of department – Department of Design and Furniture
Externí oponent IGA – Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology
IDF FFWT, Zemědělská 3, 61300 Brno (Černá Pole)
Office: T2.05
+420 545 134 177, +420 778 978 142
Department of Design and Furniture
Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology
Zemědělská 3, 613 00 Brno
+420 545 134 169
List of employees

Department of Design and Furniture

Staff

History

  • In 1992 the Department of Furniture and Special Wood Products was founded. The first steps of the department took place at a detached workplace on the premises of VVUN in Jundrovská Street in Komín, where teaching, collections and university texts on furniture were prepared, which had never before been compiled.
  • The Testing Room of Furniture, which was established as the first facility of this kind in Czechoslovakia in 1966, became a part of the department.  At that time, it was the only one in the Czech Republic capable of carrying out comprehensive tests of furniture products. Later, the Testing Laboratory was moved to the campus in the “T” building.
  • In 1996, the study of wood engineering was expanded to include new specializations in Furniture Production and Furniture Design. The “T” building was increased by one floor, where a design studio was created and the team was supplemented by prominent architects František Vrána, Boris Hála and Prof. Jindřich Halabala. The department and the development of the studio were taken over by Vice-Dean Petr Brunecký, who managed to establish the base of the field with his straightforward approach of a production practitioner and to make the interdisciplinary study of furniture an independent study programme.
  • In this period, the first special chamber for measuring VOC substances was designed and built in the Czech Republic for research purposes.  The Testing Room was equipped with gas chromatography, a laboratory of surface treatments was created and the first research began in the field of interior ecology. The department welcomed the addition of chemists Ing. Daniela Tesařová and Zdeněk Muzikář, whose task was to strengthen the scientific potential of the department and address the quality of indoor environments in buildings.
  • The department also participated in the establishment of the Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers and established close cooperation with the Association of Czech Furniture Manufacturers. Cluster projects have enabled the restoration of heavy machinery for mechanical testing in the Testing Room. In 2002, the department adopted an interdisciplinary concept of the field of interior – furniture – design, which was also reflected in its name: “Department of Furniture, Design and Living”.
  • Under the tireless leadership of František Vrána, students began to win their first awards in student competitions. In 2005, the first year of the Professor J. Halabala Award took place, and in 2006, the first open-air exhibition – Land Art – was held. Ludvika Kanická established contacts with a school in Saint Etienne. For student exhibitions at the MOBITEX furniture fair in Brno, she recruited the world’s leading designers. Students started studying in Ireland, Finland, Germany and other countries as part of the Erasmus programme.
  • Fundamental to the existence and future of furniture engineering was the accreditation of the PhD. programme “Furniture Design Processes”.
  • In 2018, an extensive modernization of the woodworking pavilion in Building “P” began, where students attend the practical part of the course or carry out their term projects and final theses. The pavilion is equipped not only with classic single-purpose woodworking machines, but also with modern CNC machines corresponding to the emerging concept of Industry 4.0.