Systematicky se věnuje teorii designu, publikuje v odborném tisku a přednáší na mnoha odborných školách doma i v zahraničí. Od roku 1997 vede ateliér Architektura a design na Vysoké škole uměleckoprůmyslové, v letech 2002–2005 zde působil ve funkci rektora. Za významný přínos pro mezinárodní design a vzdělávání v oblasti designu získal v roce 2006 Čestný doktorát University of Brighton. V témže roce mu byla za nápojový soubor Vicenza udělena Národní cena za design 2006.Jiří Pelcl ranks among the leading Czech designers. A founder of the well-known Atika design group (1987–1992), he lives and works in Prague. He designs furniture and interiors, glass and porcelain, collaborating with a series of Czech manufacturers. He focuses on the theory of design, publishing in the specialist press and lecturing at many colleges in the Czech Republic and other countries. Since 1997 he has been in charge of the Studio of Architecture and Design at the Prague Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design; from 2002 to 2005 he was also Rector of the Academy. In 2006 he was given an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Brighton for his major contribution to international design and design education. The same year he was awarded the National Design Prize 2006 for his Vicenza drinking glass set.