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.
Course Description
Lecturers
Dima Zanko is the owner and founder of the DIZA brand. He has over 15 years of experience in industrial design. The objects of his DIZA brand took part in exhibitions in Oslo, Stockholm, Milan, London and Paris. He is a co-founder of the Kitass factory, which produces furniture for the HoReCa industry.
Max Voitenko is the creative director of the kint brand. Over 11 years in industrial design. He worked at Kyivproekt, architect Morsky's bureau, Makhno studio, LINE STUDIO. He developed designs for such brands as roche bobois, adrenalina, kint, gantri, formae. His products have been exhibited at iSaloni, Maison Objet, and Dutch Design Week.
Kateryna Sokolova is the co-founder and creative director of the NOOM brand and the SOKOLOVA design studio. She collaborates with such world-famous brands as Ligne Roset, Driade, Forestier, Bolia, Roche Bobois, Casala and others. Winner of the Red Dot Design Award and German Design Awards.
Guest lecturer
Larysa Tsybina is a connoisseur of design history. Curator of DVRZ Design Days. She organized the Ukrainian pavilion at London Design Biennale '23
