Hlavní stránka Info portálu ZČU

Experience that cannot be gained in a purely academic environment. This is one of the main benefits of involving students in projects for public institutions and the private sector. The Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen (FDA) is well aware of this. Students from the Furniture and Interior Design studio are thus involved in several projects that aim to gradually improve life in the West Bohemian metropolis.

One such project is a brand-new relaxation zone at the Education and Research Library of Pilsen Region, which opened to readers and other visitors on Thursday, January 22. The design was created by student Pavlína Šmrhová. The task was to create a space that respects the character of a public institution while offering a place for rest that differs from the library’s traditional study environment. "Approaching FDA was a logical choice. We like to work with someone who can deliver quality results. The students who participated in the competition designs represent a sample of clients who make up 50% of our users, and the UWB is a partner with whom we also collaborate on other projects," explained library director Daniel Bechný, praising the collaboration with Sutnar Faculty: "The students proved to be creative and sensitive to the client's needs, and the project manager was able to guide them well towards a valid result."

However, the library is not the only project the studio’s students have worked on in recent years. For example, the employee cafeteria of the Asteel Flash company in Pilsen-Bory is already in operation. It was not an easy project, as the space had to meet the aesthetic, operational, and hygienic requirements of corporate catering. Currently, the construction of a ceremonial hall and city council chamber at the Plzeň 4 – Doubravka Municipal Office is being completed. Students designed representative spaces there that will serve both for wedding ceremonies and for council meetings.

The Furniture and Interior Design Studio is also behind the design of the new lobby for the Techmania Science Center, which is still awaiting implementation. However, the studio's management is already preparing new projects. "We are also planning further cooperation with the Education and Research Library of the Pilsen Region," said Jana Potiron, head of the Furniture and Interior Design Studio and vice-dean for creative activities at the Faculty of Design and Art.

Working on commissions for public institutions and the private sector forms a key part of the studio's teaching. Students thus go through the entire process from conception to implementation. "It is important for them to get to know real commissions, develop their individual creativity, and also cultivate the ability to deal with clients or defend their own designs," explained Potiron. Graduates of the studio thus leave the faculty with a portfolio that includes not only school projects and visualizations, but also documentation of completed interiors. According to Jana Potiron, experience in negotiating, presenting one's own designs to investors, and the ability to defend design solutions against technical and economic arguments gives graduates a clear competitive advantage when entering the job market.