The Institute of Industrial Design was founded in 1950 as one of the first institutions of this kind in Europe. At the beginning the aims of the Institute were to support the domestic furniture, textile, glass and ceramic industries and to promote design within the society. Design studies were inspired both by the experience of international functionalism and Polish experiments of the inter-war period, and by the native folklore. The IWP motto of those times was “Everyday beauty for everyone”. In the 1960s new directions in the form of ergonomic studies, a systematic method of working clothing design, and complex methods of interior designing appeared.

The Institute of Industrial Design was one of the first institutions to undertake design for the disabled. The Institute, in compliance with its statutory activities, conducts interdisciplinary scientific and research work, as well as design studies aimed at creating a substantial basis to support product development and the shaping of working and living environments of man. For many years one of the main fields of the Institute’s research work has been ergonomics. The results of ergonomic investigation have been developed in the forms of data, standards and ergonomic requirements for the design and assessment of machines, devices, work-stands, furnishings of living interiors, schools and nurseries, as well as clothing design. The results of the studies are applied by Polish industries that implement the designs and make use of the evaluations, expertises and consultancies. The results are also used by manufacturers in their advertising campaigns.

An important part of the IWP’s activities has been research and design work in the field of textile designing. In this area the Institute can boast many years’ experience and co-operation with the leading scientific centres and the industry.

The IWP’s scientific and research workers are highly qualified specialists, representing technical, humanistic and artistic domains. The Institute’s staff participate in Polish and international conferences, scientific congresses and trade fairs, where they can present the IWP achievements. They also publish the results of their scientific studies in internationally recognised journals. The Institute participates in the work of standard committees.

An important part of design promotion activities is the GOOD DESIGN programme. Under this programme the Institute offers attractive forms of the promotion of Polish products characterised by high-quality design. The GOOD DESIGN promotional label is awarded by the IWP’s interdisciplinary team of design experts. The awarded products are shown at specially organised displays.

The IWP promotes design also through the organisation of Polish and foreign exhibitions, including exhibitions that present the achievements of Polish manufacturers. One of the important exhibitions is the YOUNG DESIGN biennial. It is the survey of the best works created by students of design faculties in Poland aimed at fostering the beginning of their professional career.

The Institute has two modern show-rooms of 480 and 200 sq. m. Within the frames of information activities, the Institute provides information on designers, manufacturers and design exhibitions & competitions organised home and abroad. The Institute of Industrial Design has a specialised library unique in Poland on design and applied art. The collection contains 42,000 books and 700 titles of journals and magazines, including 200 foreign periodicals.

The Institute publishes a newsletter for designers and manufacturers called “Express Information”. It is also the editor of “Works and Materials” fascicles and the unique “Design Library” series devoted to design history and theory.

INSTYTUT WZORNICTWA PRZEMYSŁOWEGO

INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

Świętojerska 5/7, 00-236 Warsaw, Poland

Tel. 48-22/831-22-21, Fax 48-22/831-64-78