Irma Kozina

Irma Kozina is a Professor of Art History and Design at the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice since 1998. She holds a PhD from the University of Wrocław (1996) and habilitation (dr hab.) from the University of Warsaw (2007). Her research focuses on architectural history in industrial Upper Silesia, Polish funeral banners, and Art Deco design. She has authored books like Art Deco, Ikony dizajnu and Polski design, and pioneered projects in wayfinding systems, medical ambulance design, and Silesian cultural heritage documentation.

Key awards include the 2014 ED-Awards Bronze Medal for the Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra’s visual information system, and the 2018 Festival Animator Special Award for NEBULA. Her work bridges traditional craftsmanship with digital innovation, exemplified by the Insects Project addressing Central European typography standards. She has collaborated with institutions like the Silesian Porcelain Factory and UNESCO’s Katowice Music City initiative.

Her research spans multidisciplinary projects: optimizing ambulance interiors for paramedic efficiency, analyzing wayfinding behaviors in public buildings, and creating color/pattern databases for regional identity. She lectures globally, including at Beijing University of Technology and TYPO Berlin, and leads multimedia studios producing award-winning audio-visual installations.