Course detail

Introduction to Design

FSI-YDF Acad. year: 2025/2026 Winter semester

In the subject students get to know elementary principles and essence of design work based on understanding general design principles. The subject focuses on the theory of industrial design, including its historical development. A part of the subject is also a study of the methodology of the work of an industrial designer and practiced in the elementary form while working on assignments assigned as a part of the seminars.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

2

Supervisor

doc. Ing. arch. Jan Rajlich

Department

Institute of Machine and Industrial Design

Entry knowledge

Knowledge of basic art techniques in drawing, painting and graphics is a prerequisite.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

The condition of granting a classified credit is: Compulsory attendance in the lessons, individual consultations with the supervisor. The approach to the given task is evaluated as well as the completeness and the quality of the processing of the individual stages of the work and the assignment of the specified outputs within the given deadlines. The final evaluation consists of evaluation of individual projects and evaluation of test. A total of up to 100 points can be earned.
Resulting classification will be defined by the ECTS scale. The course is evaluated with the following grades: ECTS EVALUATION DEGREES / PTS. RATING / NUMERIC RATING: A / 100 – 90 / 1 / Excellent; B /89 – 80 / 1,5 / Very good; C / 79 – 70 / 2 / Good; D / 69 – 60 / Satisfactory; E / 59 – 50 / Sufficient; F / 49 – 0 / 4 / Failed.
Recommended attendance at lectures, compulsory attendance at seminars. Education runs according to the week schedule. The way of compensation of missed seminars is specified by the tutor.

Aims

The aim of the course is to acquire elementary knowledges of design theory, to acquire the ability to understand of basic principles, methods and practices of design process. Orientation in the field of industrial design, depiction of objects and independent design thinking is a prerequisite for creative work in following years.

The student acquire:
- Basic orientation and knowledge in the field of industrial design.
- To develop basic design methods.
- To adopt methodology of design work.
- Knowledge of function- technical, ergonomic, aesthetic, social, economic and psychological.
- Knowledge of geometrical forms and rules of composition.

The study programmes with the given course

Programme B-PDS-P: Industrial Design, Bachelor's, compulsory

Programme B-VKP-P: Visual Communication in the Creative Industries, Bachelor's, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hours, optionally

Syllabus


  1. Introduction to the design education at the FME, Intro to design theory, Definition of design, Branches of design.

  2. Functions of design – Technical, Ergonomic, Aesthetic, Physical, Social, Economical and Psychological.

  3. Design Thinking – Design research and analysis

  4. Design Thinking – Ideation

  5. Design Thinking – Prototype, Test, Implement

  6. The principles of good design by Dieter Rams

  7. Profession of a designer

  8. Design composition – Shape in design, elementary components of geometric forms, proportions.

  9. Gestalt Principles – Principles of shape psychology.

  10. Visual principles in design 1

  11. Visual principles in design 2

  12. Design of the 20th century – Czech and world famous designers

  13. Design of the 21th century – Czech and world famous designers

Studio work

26 hours, compulsory

Syllabus


  1. Introduction to the workshop – Sylabus and passing requirements, Assignment no. 1 – Design sketching, Assignment no. 2 – Folder Design, Assignment no. 3 – Stomachion (2D geometric composition)

  2. Evaluation of Assignment no. 2. Consultation od task 3.

  3. Consultation of Assignment no. 3.

  4. Evaluation of Assignment no. 3, Assignment no. 4 – Design of a simple product with a focus on research and design process.

  5. Consultation of Assignment no. 4.

  6. Consultation of Assignment no. 4.

  7. Consultation of Assignment no. 4.

  8. Evaluation of Assignment no. 4, Assignment no. 5 – Design of a simple product with focus on technical and easthetic innovation.

  9. Consultation of Assignment no. 5.

  10. Consultation of Assignment no. 5.

  11. Consultation of Assignment no. 5.

  12. Consultation of Assignment no. 5.

  13. Evaluation of Assignment no. 5, final exam.