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On Sunday, September 8th, the 11th annual Czech Design Awards were presented at the Mánes Exhibition Hall, traditionally marking the conclusion of the Czech Design Week festival. This year, young Slovak design talent predominated among the award recipients, with creators often presenting their collections to the Czech public for the first time.
Discovery of the Year was awarded to a student from the Metal and Jewelry studio at the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, Klára Valušková, who presented her latest jewelry collection at Mánes, characterized by its use of geometry, illusion, and interplay of light. The award for Best Installation at the Czech Design Week festival goes to the Polish studio Bluba, founded by Kajetan Luteracki, a graduate of the Faculty of Design at the Technical University of Lodz, which specializes in interior lighting.
The main Czech Design Award, Refresher Best of Design, awarded for the most compelling design collection, this year went to studio VNEM, a Slovak design duo comprising Tímea Kepová and Gerogios Somarakis. They were recognized for their 15:15 collection, a series of unique pieces that defy conventional furniture forms and draw inspiration from ancient aesthetic ideals.
This year's twelve-member festival jury, composed of experienced designers, design theorists, educators, and cultural media representatives, cast their votes throughout the Czech Design Week festival.
Their voting also resulted in a Special Jury Recognition for studio besiidka, formed earlier this year from the long-standing collaboration of designers Nikola Chromečková and David Hotárek. At the Mánes Exhibition Hall this year, the studio unveiled a collection of functional objects designed to enhance festive occasions, distinguished by their emphasis on blending modern technologies with traditional craftsmanship.
The Czech Design Awards are also complemented by two categories presented by the organizers of the Czech Design Week festival. Festival Award was presented this year at Mánes to student Anton Jablonskij from the Furniture and Interior Design Studio at Prague's UMPRUM for his experimental library, OKAP, which originated from his studio work.
Special Festival Recognition will once again head to Slovakia, specifically to SKLO studio at Bratislava's Academy of Fine Arts for the group installation of student works Fresh Slovak Glass, which presented the young talent of Slovak glass design in Mánes.
"This year, the Czech Design Awards went to Slovakia in several categories. As the Czech Design Week festival, we are delighted that talented young work is also emerging in Slovakia, which we have the opportunity to support and present to the Czech public," said Lukáš Pipek, director of the CzechDesign Week festival, regarding the awards.
The Czech Design Awards were established with the aim of supporting talented creators in all design sectors. Award winners receive an automatic invitation to exhibit their collections at the next edition of the Czech Design Week festival and also receive a physical award in the form of a designer vase, designed by František Jungvirt. The awards are also partnered by the AJETO glassworks, where this year's awards were produced.
The eleventh edition of the Czech Design Week festival presented over 120 exhibitors, including designers, emerging creators and students, studios, and brands, for the first time in two locations. While the Mánes Exhibition Hall traditionally featured panel installations by designers and brands, the festival, in cooperation with the Museum of Prague, newly invited visitors to the Clam-Gallas Palace for the accompanying exhibition New Generation. Through it, visitors were presented with a curated selection of young talent in design and art.
The long-term goal of the Czech Design Week festival is to support young creators, including students, recent graduates, and new discoveries. The festival often gives them the opportunity to exhibit for the first time at similar shows in the Czech Republic and abroad, and also provides advice on how to work with the concept of panel installations and self-presentation for greater success at larger design events abroad.
