Studio Karel

Course Description

Confrontation in art and design is a crucial moment when different opinions, materials, approaches, or values collide. It generates tension, sparks dialogue, and forces us to take a position. In the Winter Semester 2025/26, we will explore confrontation as an inspiring creative force.

The aim of the course is not to provide definitive answers, but to support students in formulating their own visions—grounded in deeper analysis, critical thinking, and the courage to address contemporary challenges in design and society.

Learning Objectives

Through workshops and studio practice, students will:

• Understand the meaning and potential of confrontation (intellectual, visual, material, and ethical).

• Experiment with diverse methods of collaboration and presentation.

• Develop and articulate a personal position through experiment, prototype, or artistic/design intervention.

Expected Outcomes

Each student will complete a design or artistic project, which may take the form of:

• Object, installation, or spatial intervention

• Artefact or experimental visual concept

• Service, design-help format, or digital interface

All projects must be supported by:

• Critical analysis and defense

• Clear argumentation demonstrating relevance to the theme and the broader societal context

Pedagogical Framework

The course builds on traditions of European and global schools such as Bauhaus, Royal College of Art, Aalto University, and TU Delft, where assignments of this type serve as catalysts for innovation in design through dialogue with technology and social reality.

Confrontation here is understood not as conflict, but as a source of knowledge and innovation, enabling the pushing of boundaries in contemporary art and design.

Teaching Format

• Studio teaching

• Thematic workshops

• Public critiques

• Consultations with external partners

Collaborations: across CTU (technology, IT, biomedicine, social sciences) and with external institutions.
Ethics & Data: accessibility “by design,” ethical data management, and transparent use of AI tools (described in student reports).

Assessment Criteria (Weighting)

• Concept & relevance to theme (25%)

• Execution/prototype & craftsmanship/technical level (20%)

• Sustainability (environmental + HCI/UX, evidence, trade-offs) (25%)

• Process, research, collaboration, documentation (20%)

• Presentation & defense (10%)

Conditions: active participation in workshops and critiques, meeting milestones A and B, timely submission.

Coursework Requirements

Bachelor Level (BA):

• Short report (8–12 pages) including analysis, concept, prototyping, environmental and HCI justification.

• Basic user validation (3–5 user research methods such as interviews, testing).

• Theoretical and methodological grounding, including work with literature and standards (accessibility, ergonomics/HCI).

Master Level (MA):

• Extended written study (15–25 pages) with theoretical-methodological grounding.

• Critical engagement with sustainability (LCA/circularity), UX/HCI validation, and comparison with practice.

• Deliverables: PDF + physical model or functional digital prototype, plus data/resource repository (link). Language: CZ/EN.

• At least one key sustainability principle (e.g., disassemblability, local production, repairability).

• User validation: chosen method (scenario testing, heuristic evaluation, accessibility testing) with n≥6 participants or iterative testing rounds.

Semester Schedule (13 weeks)

Workshop 0: Introduction to the theme; case studies of “confrontation”; formulation of research questions.

1. Materials & processes (confrontation of materials/technologies); mapping risks & opportunities.

2. Field/desk research; stakeholder & persona selection; Milestone A: research brief.

3. Concept development: two variants of confrontation strategy.

4. Critique 1: main direction selection; prototyping & UX validation plan.

5. Workshop 2: HCI/UX (accessibility, ethics, dark patterns as “anti-confrontation”).

6. Prototype V0; quick tests; environmental framework (LCA/circular checklist).

7. Critique 2: Prototype V1 + initial HCI/LCA findings.

8. Workshop 3: Circularity & service (repairs, modularity, long-term usability).

9. User testing – extended (MA) / validation (BA); iteration.

10. Prototype V2; Milestone B: proof of sustainability (BA: principle; MA: LCA screening/strategy).

11. Finalization of outputs & panels; defense rehearsal.

12. Final presentation & public critique; submission of PDF/repository.