Object Design — interior objects and furniture design

Course overview

Description generated based on course syllabus and open data.

About object design and interior object design

The field combines ideation, form-giving, ergonomics, materials science, and manufacturing of furniture and interior objects. Focused on the full cycle: brief, moodboard, sketches, technical drawings, prototype, quality control, and presentation. Lecturers include Dmytro Zanko (DIZA), Max Voytenko (kint), Kateryna Sokolova (NOOM), and guest Larisa Tsybina (design history).

Who object/product design suits and who it does not

Suitable for object design practitioners

• Interior designers and architects expanding into furniture design and product/object design.
• Beginners and students moving from theory to practice in interior object design.
• Technologists and furniture manufacturers needing structured understanding of product design and production.

Not suitable in the context of object design

• Those seeking theory only without practical tasks and prototyping.
• Those not planning to work with drawings, materials, and contractors.
• Those who do not treat interior object design as a distinct competency.

Problem → outcome in object design

• Unclear concept → briefing, moodboarding, and reference selection methods.
• Ergonomics issues → anthropometrics and functionality criteria for furniture.
• Material mistakes → guide to wood, metal, plastics, composites, and their constraints.
• Undefined production → stages: specs, prototype, pilot, quality control, and risks.
• Difficult presentation → portfolio structure, brand communication, participation in exhibitions.

Comparison with alternatives in object/product design

• Self-study: flexible but longer and without systematic production feedback.
• Academic education: strong theory but less practice with contractors and real cases.
• Production-only track: access to tech, but lacks concept and visual design language.
• Standalone workshops: point skills without a full object design cycle.

Expected outcomes and competencies in object design

• Development of furniture and object concepts: brief, moodboard, sketches, technical drawings.
• Prototyping and ergonomics validation; usage scenarios.
• Material and process selection; collaboration with contractors and factories.
• Production control: control charts, tolerances, risk assessment.
• Visual presentation: 3D, renders, function and value descriptions.
• Brand communication, exhibitions and competitions; portfolio with case studies.