Address:
Department of Interior and Furniture Design, Faculty of Forest Industry, 10 Kliment Ohridski Blvd., University of Forestry, 1797 Sofia, Bulgaria

Location:
Administration – Building A, 4th floor, office 437

Head of Department:
Vassil Jivkov, Prof. PhD

Organizing Aid for Study Activities:
Nadezhda Konstantinova Simeonova – Building A, 4th floor, office 437

“Interior and Furniture Design” is a key department of the Forest Industry Faculty. The teaching staff includes architects, artists, engineer-designers, and engineers, and the department offers more than 30 disciplines covering a wide range of student education. The Department is a leader in the Engineering Design (Interior and Furniture Design) Program, where many disciplines are provided, mainly those that constitute the professional skills of future interior and furniture designers, structural engineers, managers, etc.

HISTORY of the Department
The establishment of Dpt. Interior and Furniture Design was made possible by several objective prerequisites, among them changes in the demographic conditions during the years of transition, residential architecture and individual requirements of residents. They brought about the need of qualified designers in interior and furniture. Furniture companies were established with flexible technology, allowing designing solutions for the interior.

The foundations of the Engineering Design Program at the University of Forestry were laid in 1989. Using an existing post-graduate program, a group of teachers developed a new full-time 5-year Master's program in Interior Design. In the autumn of 1994, at the Ministry of Education and Science was submitted the Study Documentation of a Master Program in Engineering Design (Interior and Furniture Design), and the first student cohort was accepted for the 1995/1996 academic year. Teachers from the Faculty of Forest Industry, as well as the National Art Academy, the Technical University in Sofia, etc., were invited to teach.

The Department of “Interior and Furniture Design” was established in 1998 to respond to the specific requirements of the new program. Today, it is one of the basic organisational units of the Faculty with the greatest number of courses and is a major factor in the Engineering Design Program. After the Department’s creation, the Heads of the Department were Georgi Kyuchukov, Prof. PhD, Georgi Abrashev, Prof. PhD, Regina Raycheva, Prof. PhD, Assia Marinova, Prof. PhD, and from March 2020 till present – Vassil Jivkov, Prof. PhD.

In the past years, the Engineering Design program was established internationally among analogic programs in other HEI-s in Bulgaria and abroad. In 2005, the organised student workshop implemented, under the framework of an Erasmus Intensive Program, successful coordination of 6 HEI-s from all over Europe, and together with Prodes company, a representative of Häfele in Bulgaria, demonstrated the enthusiasm and willingness of the staff to develop new Design teaching methods.

In the country, designers who graduated from the Bachelor and Master Programs showed a considerable advantage over other similar programs. Apart from being excellent designers, they demonstrate deep knowledge in the area of wood and wooden materials, their properties, strength and deformational behaviour. The key knowledge turned out to be the knowledge of manufacturing processes that gave them an advantage over other competing specialists. A convincing proof of the excellent education at the University of Forestry alumni has been the numerous participations in design forums and competitions, where they won frequent prizes.
A special role was assigned to link the Department under the Erasmus+ Program with foreign HEI-s. Prof. Regina Raycheva, in her quality as Institutional Erasmus+ Coordinator for the University of Forestry, did her best to encourage Department members and other teachers, together with students, to participate in teaching mobilities and Intensive programs at partner universities. This took place in countries, such as Austria, Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Finland, Spain and Bulgaria. Each year, two or three Design students take an Erasmus Semester at the University of Applied Sciences in Salzburg, Austria.

Academic Staff
At present, the academic staff of the Department of Interior and Furniture Design consists of the following colleagues:

• Vassil Jivkov, Prof., PhD, Head of Department
• Stela Tasheva, Prof., PhD
• Desislava Angelova, Assoc. Prof. PhD
• Ralitsa Simeonova, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD
• Maria Kokorska, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD
• Boryana Petrova, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD
• Vanina Tabakova, Assist. Prof.
• Carmella Lombardi, Assist. Prof.
• Nadezhda Simeonova, Organizing Aid for Study Activities

Study Process
Courses and Lecturers:

The teaching Staff of the department consists of highly qualified and established professionals in Art History, designers, architects, artists, construction engineers, and furniture engineers. The department had, in the last years, 13 full-time and part-time Doctoral Students, of which 7 have obtained their PhD degrees, another 3 Doctoral students have started their studies in 2019.

The Department has been entrusted with the teaching of a number of curriculum disciplines of the Engineering Design Bachelor and Master Programs, as well as several disciplines of the Bachelor and Master Programs in “Technology of Wood and Furniture”, such as “Interior Architecture”, “Systems and Mechanisms in Furniture”, and “Strength Design for Furniture”.

Bachelor Program, Engineering Design (Interior and Furniture Design)

• Artistic Rendering Techniques in Interior Design. Seminars led by Vanina Tabakova, Assist. Prof.
• Colouristics. Lectures and seminars led by Rangel Chipev, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD
• Non-Wood Materials in Interior. Lectures led by Vassil Jivkov, Prof., PhD; seminars led by Ralitsa Simeonova, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD
• Design History, Theory and Methodology. Lectures led by Desislava Angelova, Assoc. Prof. PhD: seminars led by Carmell Lombardi, Assist. Prof.
• Styles in Interior and Furniture. Lectures led by Regina Raycheva, Prof., PhD; seminars led by Desislava Angelova, Assoc. Prof. PhD
• Morphogenesis. Lectures led by Stela Tasheva, Prof., PhD; seminars led by Carmella Lombardi, Assist. Prof.
• Furniture Joints and Structural Elements. Lectures led by Ralitsa Simeonova, Sen. Assist. Prof., PhD; seminars led by Ralitsa Simeonova, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD
• Architecture and Construction. Lectures led by Stela Tasheva, Prof., PhD and Assia Marinova, Prof., PhD; seminars led by Assia Marinova, Prof., PhD and Boryana Petrova, Sen. Assist. Prof., PhD.
• Theory of Composition. Lectures and seminars led by Stela Tasheva, Prof., PhD.
• Computer-aided Furniture Design. Seminars led by Maria Kokorska, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD
• Design Project (Workshop), for 5th and 7th Semester. Led by Vassil Jivkov, Prof., PhD, and Regina Raycheva, Prof., PhD, aided by two teams of Department staff.
• Furniture Construction. Lectures led by Vassil Jivkov, Prof. PhD, seminars led by Boryana Petrova, Sen. Assist. Prof., PhD
• Graphic Design. Lectures and seminars by Desislava Angelova, Assoc. Prof. PhD, seminars led by Carmella Lombardi, Assist. Prof.
• Public Buildings Furnishing. Lectures and seminars led by Maria Kokorska, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD
• Furniture Strength Design. Lectures and seminars led by Assia Marinova, Prof., PhD and Boryana Petrova, Sen. Assist. Prof., PhD

Bachelor Program, Wood and Furniture Technology

• Interior Architecture. Lectures led by Regina Raycheva, Prof. PhD, seminars led by Desislava Angelova, Assoc. Prof. PhD

The Department staff is actively participating in Practical Trainings in “Furniture Construction”, “Technology of Furniture”, “Construction Elements of Wood in Interior”, for Semester VI and Practical Trainings in “Non-Wood Materials Elements in Interior”, “Styles in Interior and Furniture”, “Residential Interior Design and Furnishing”, “Public Buildings Furnishing”.

Master Program in Engineering Design (Interior and Furniture Design)

• Innovative and Strategic Design. Lectures and seminars led by Desislava Angelova, Assoc. Prof. PhD
• Design Projects Presentation. Lectures and seminars led by Stela Tasheva, Prof. PhD
• Systems and Mechanisms in Furniture and Interior. Lectures led by Vassil Jivkov, Prof., PhD; seminars led by Ralitsa Simeonova, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD
• Design of Interior and Furniture of Non-Wood Materials. Lectures and seminars both led by Vassil Jivkov, Prof., PhD
• Design of Avant-garde Furniture. Lectures led by Regina Raycheva, Prof. PhD; seminars led by Desislava Angelova, Assoc. Prof. PhD
• Interior Accessories Design. Seminars led by Rangel Chipev, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD
• Design of Unique Residential Interiors. Lectures and seminars by Regina Raycheva, Prof., PhD
• Lighting and Lighting Systems. Lectures and seminars led by Vassil Jivkov, Prof., PhD
• Period Style Interiors. Seminars led by Desislava Angelova, Assoc. Prof. PhD
• Introduction to Urban Design. Lectures and seminars led by Stela Tasheva, Assoc. Prof., PhD
• Art and Design. Lectures and seminars led by Rangel Chipev, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD
• Ecodesign. Seminars led by Maria Kokorska, Sen. Assist. Prof. PhD

Lecturers and staff from the Department have taught at different foreign universities in Austria, Germany, the Republic of North Macedonia, Slovakia, Scotland etc., as well as invited to lecture at a number of Bulgarian HEI-s – UACG, NBU, NAA, VSU, EPU Pernik, etc. Department staff has also serious results in their artistic and creative activities, prizes, individual expositions, participation at prestigious expositions at home and abroad, etc.

Staff with academic rank and assistants with a PhD from Department IFD tutor a great part of diploma students of the Engineering Design Bachelor or Master Program, as well as part of Technology of Wood and Furniture Bachelor or Master Programs. All staff of academic rank participates in State Examination Committee for Diploma Presentations at both Bachelor and Master Programs at the Faculty of Forest Industry.

Scientific projects

Department staff takes active part of different Science projects for qualification and the Use of Up-to-Date Teaching Forms, such as:

• Project BG051PO001-3.3.06-0056 „Support for the Development of Young People at the University of Forestry”;
• Project BG051РО001-3.1.09-0019 “Building of United System of Qualification and Career Development of Staff at UF“;
• Project BG051РО001-4.3.04-0052 „Development of Electronic Distance Learning Center at the University of Forestry”;
• Project BG051PO001-3.1.09-0019 “System for Qualification and Career Development of Teachers in Higher Education”;
• Project BG05M2OP001-2.009-0034 "Support for the Development of Scientific Capacity at the University of Forestry";
• Project BG051PO001-3.3.07-0002 „Student Practical Training“;
• Project „Building with Sustainable Resources”, IP, 76946-IC-1-2007-1-BG-ERASMUS-EUC-1, Mendel University, Brno, Czech Republic;
• Project „Urban Regeneration”, IP, 76946-IC-1-2007-1-BG-ERASMUS-EUC-1, ELISAVA UNIVERSITY, Barcelona, Spain;
• Project „LED Light Up the Balkans”, National Academy of Arts, Sofia.

Scientific Areas of Department Staff
The Interior and Furniture Design Department is a major unit. Its staff are among the leading specialists in their areas of science, with numerous publications and citations in renowned scientific reviews both in Bulgaria and abroad. They are regular participants in international science forums and members of international science teams. They have multi-faceted science interests and are professionals in various areas.

These are the scientific directions of their research:

• Design of Interior and Furnishing of Residential and Corporate (Public) Buildings;
• Theory and History of Architecture and Design;
• New Developments in Contemporary Design;
• Styles in Interior and Furniture;
• Increasing Utility of Living Environment and Quality of Life by Research of Innovations in the Area of Materials and Technology;
• Morphogenesis and Theory of Composition;
• Furniture Design and Optimizing Furniture Construction;
• Research and Creation of New Construction Materials for Furniture;
• Construction of Furniture with Lightweight Structures;
• Computer-aided Design and Presentation of Design Projects;
• Research on Strength and Deformation Characteristics of Joints and Structural Materials Used in Furniture and Products Made of Wood and Wood-Based Materials;
• Research on Deformation Behavior with Long-Lasting Loads of Wood and Wood-Based Materials;
• Implementation of Innovative Methods in Design Teaching;
• Traditional and Contemporary Methods of Artistic Visualization;
• Graphic Design, Print Graphics and Book Publishing, Corporate Accidentation, Logo, Communicative-Sign System and Typography;
• Computer-aided Modelling and Visualization of Architectural Solutions for Exterior and Interiors, Products of Industrial and Graphic Design.

Patents
Members of the Department staff have developed and registered several patents:

• Jivkov, V., Marinova, А. Registration certificate for Utility Model №1412/02.05.2011: „Reinforced panel structural element for furniture”. Patent Office of Republic of Bulgaria. Publish in Bulletin №2, 28.02.2011;
• Pissareva, E., Jivkov, V. Registration certificate for Industrial Design №7535/2012: "Multifunctional Furniture". Patent Office of Republic of Bulgaria;
• Jivkova, B., Jivkov, V., Zhilova, Y. Registration certificate for Industrial Design №7847/05.07.2013: „Hook for clothes”. Patent Office of Republic of Bulgaria;
• Jivkov, V., Marinova, А. Registration certificate for Invention №66531/30.06.2016: „Reinforced panel structural element for furniture and method for its manufacturing”. Patent Office of Republic of Bulgaria, Publish in Bulletin №6/2016;
• Jivkov, V., Simeonova, R. Registration certificate for Utility Model №4445/21.11.2019 г.: „Test tool for splitting resistance evaluation in the area countersunk hole”. Patent Office of Republic of Bulgaria.
• Vodenova, P., Angelova, D., Tasheva, St. Certificate for registration of utility model reg. N: 3895 U1/15.10.2020 "Sensor system for analysis and evaluation of interior spaces, zoning and furnishing.";
• Petrova, B., Jivkov, V. 2021. EIUPO European Union Intellectual Property Office. Registered Community Design No.008752760-0001 under the Locarno 06.04 classification class, published in Bulletin No. 214/2021.
• Petrova, B., Jivkov, V. 2022. Certificate for registration of "Utility model" No. 4316 U1 | Application No. 5486/10.03.2022. Multifunctional connecting element for standard and thin plate structural elements, doors and backs in furniture. Published in PV Bulletin No. 202209 dated 15.09.2022.

The active scientific work of the lecturers of the department and the creation of utility models and inventions as a final result is carried out in the laboratory of furniture construction, where the foundations of the rational construction and dimensioning of furniture in our country are laid by applying original experimental-theoretical methods for testing and establishing the strength and deformation characteristics of the angular joints of their structural elements, which are applied in the deformation and strength study of furniture structures with computer programs developed using the finite element method.

The IDM Department works in close cooperation with the Branch Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industry, interior and architectural studios, and prominent designers from practice, such as Ilian Milinov, Svetoslav Todorov, Lachezar Tsvetanov and others, which helps the students of the speciality "Engineering Design (Interior and Furniture Design)" to gain more practical knowledge and experience, and the business - to meet their future colleagues and use their innovative ideas.