Multidisciplinarity by design: MX lab 2016–2026

Zlín's G18 Gallery presents an exhibition that maps the ten-year activity of the MX lab research laboratory (and related vertical studios) at the Faculty of Architecture and Design of the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. The exhibition presents 32 projects, 25 authors and 7 thematic areas that bring together innovative design approaches with an emphasis on connecting disciplines, using new technologies and teamwork.

MX lab as an independent laboratory and research group operates at the Faculty of Architecture and Design of the Slovak University of Technology under the leadership of its founder, assoc. prof. Michala Lipková, in collaboration with assoc. prof. Peter Olah, Dr. Michal Jelínek and Dr. Filip Maukš, as well as with the support of a team of doctoral students. The acronym "MX" refers to ‘multidisciplinary research’ and ‘experience design’, and is also a reference to mixed reality technologies, which are among the key tools the laboratory experiments with. MX lab focuses on design in the rapidly developing field of personal mobility and connects industrial and digital product design with research in new materials and manufacturing technologies.

The exhibition presents work divided into three thematic areas – automotive interior design, color, material and surface design (CMF design) and interaction and digital product design (UX/HMI). The students, together with the MX lab team, have the opportunity to collaborate with partners from the automotive industry (Škoda Auto, Volkswagen AG) on a long-term basis, and a significant part of the exhibition focuses on presenting the results of this collaboration. Installations in three rooms of the gallery present projects across bachelor's, master's and doctoral studies, which are supplemented by the author's works of the laboratory members.

"Visitors have the opportunity to view designs of 3D models of automotive interiors, material samples, prototypes and video projections that capture the development and testing process. The exhibition maps a cross-section of our team's ten-year activity, presents a fragment of hundreds of completed projects and provides a look behind the scenes of the MX lab's creative process," says Michala Lipková, exhibition curator.

The exhibition can be visited at the G18 gallery from March 4 to April 16, 2026, from Monday to Saturday between 1 pm and 6 pm. The opening of the exhibition will take place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 5 pm. The program will include a guided tour and educational workshops. Admission to the exhibition and accompanying events is free.

Location: 
Gallery G18 ve Zlíně, gallery of the Faculty of Multimedia Communications Tomas Bata University in Zlín, Štefánikova 5670, Zlín

Exhibition duration:
4. 3. 2026 - 16. 4. 2026

Exhibition curator:
Michala Lipková

Featured authors:
Michal Adamík, Vladimír Boroň, Michaela Cvachová, Kamila Čičková, Ondrej Dóci, Matej Dubiš, Maroš Fabian, Lenka Fabiánová (Gregová), Róbert Hnilica, Žofia Horová, Petra Huraiová, Michal Jelínek, Boris Kovalík, Peter Levársky, Filip Maukš, Simona Hnilicová (Matušovičová), Peter Olah, Barbora Ondrek (Rutová), Veronika Podoláková, Natália Poláčková, Sofia Pompurová, Hana Rehorčíková, Lucia Suchá, Miroslav Truben, Lea Turzáková

Installation design:
Vladimír Boroň, Michala Lipková, Filip Maukš, Natália Poláčková

Production:
Romana Hrnčířová

Communication:
Karin Dugasová

Education:
Študentstvo KODK FMK UTB

Graphic Design
Michaela Le, Viktória Hanajíková, Michala Lipková

Link to the G18 gallery website:
https://www.g18.cz/vystava/multidisciplinarity-by-design-mx-lab-2016-2026/ 

Facebook Event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/802813696189223