Michael Zöllner

Prof. Michael Zöllner serves as Professor of Interaction Design and Vice Dean of the Faculty of Interdisciplinary and Innovative Sciences at Hof University, where he leads the Research Group 'Interaction & Data Driven Design' at the Institute for Information Systems (iisys). Appointed in 2012, he previously directed Media Design and Communication Design programs until 2022 and held pro-rectorate roles across the university's faculties.

His academic foundation includes design studies at Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences and the imedia Academy (RISD) in Providence, Rhode Island. Professional experience spans interactive agencies like Pixelpark AG and a.f.i.m. GmbH serving clients including Adidas and Bertelsmann, followed by a decade at Fraunhofer IGD where he became Deputy Department Head for Virtual and Augmented Reality, leading EU projects iTACITUS, CHESS, and MotionBank.

Research centers on experimental human-technology interfaces, exploring beyond visual modalities to incorporate haptic, gestural, auditory, and olfactory interactions. His work investigates emerging technologies through data-driven design frameworks, focusing on museum installations, industrial applications, and cultural heritage preservation via mobile AR and multi-touch systems.

Current initiatives include M4SKI Skateboard Movement Analysis (2023-2024), Timetravel Fichtelgebirge (2023-2024), and urban data visualization projects. He emphasizes empowering students to treat technology as emancipatory design tools through hands-on collaboration with museums and industry partners.

Teaching philosophy prioritizes experimental confidence in emerging technologies, implemented through seminars where students develop prototypes for real-world exhibitions and trade fairs using physical computing and machine learning frameworks.