Karol Murlak

Karol Murlak is a designer, researcher, and educator with a dual academic affiliation as Professor at SWPS University’s Faculty of Design in Warsaw and at New York’s Pratt Institute. He leads the Department of Material Design at SWPS and serves as Director of its Institute of Design, fostering interdisciplinary collaborations with global institutions like Politecnico di Milano and University of the Arts London. His work bridges design practice with scientific inquiry, focusing on materiality, multisensory interactions, and sustainable innovation.

• Doctoral Degree in Design, Academy of Fine Arts Warsaw
• Master’s in Interior Architecture, Academy of Fine Arts Warsaw
• Bachelor’s in Spatial Design, Falmouth College of Art (UK)

His research centers on materiality in design, exploring how physical prototypes and human-material interactions shape education and practice. He pioneered wood expansion technology and co-developed a biodegradable hydrogel (funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation), aligning with trends in biomaterials and circular economy principles. Projects like ZAKOSY (openwork furniture) and SCOBY (plastic alternatives) reflect his commitment to ecological design.

Scientific awards include:

• Młoda Polska Scholarship
• Design by… Competition

As Director of the Institute of Design, he mentors students like Róża Rutkowska (SCOBY project) and collaborates with researchers such as Oskar Zięta (FIDU technology), Maciej Siuda (MYKOsystem), and Mariusz Wszołek (Legal Design). Grants include the European Commission’s MSCA Doctoral Networks funding for CoDesign4Transitions, a €2.68M+ project on democratic design for climate sustainability.