Czech designers blend tradition and innovation at DesignBlok
Czech designers at DesignBlok 2023 blend tradition and innovation, showcasing glass craftsmanship and inventive approaches in Central Europe’s top
The 28th edition of DesignBlok, Central Europe’s largest design and fashion festival, concluded in Prague this autumn after featuring contributions from more than 300 designers, studios, and brands. The event spanned multiple venues and spotlighted local craftsmanship, authentic materials, and inventive approaches across disciplines.
Jana Zielinski, the festival’s director, highlighted how Czech design maintains deep-rooted traditions. “We still produce glass here,” she noted. “We still produce porcelain. You can experiment, and you do not have to search for production in some other countries. You have the tradition, you have the crafts.”
A standout exhibit was Rider, a galvanized steel bicycle stand by Arqsit, displayed at the festival’s central venue in the Functionalist Trade Fair Palace. The modular design functions as both a utilitarian object and a striking urban feature.
Adéla Bačová, a multidisciplinary designer working with Arqsit, presented a seating system characterized by organic cushion forms and a lightweight metal framework. The collection, comprising sofas, lounge chairs, and tables, allows for reconfigurable layouts, making it adaptable for environments like waiting areas or reception spaces.
Profil Nábytek, a Czech family-run business, unveiled Manual Ritual, a modular furniture line developed in collaboration with architecture studio Schwestern. The system enables users to rearrange components into coat hooks, seating, or shelving units, catering to offices that require flexible layouts over time. The company’s slogan, “the art of being flexible,” encapsulates its philosophy toward functional design.
Index Office, based in Paris, introduced S-Tool, a seating collection inspired by bicycle handlebars. The design echoes the tubular structure of the Wassily Chair while maintaining a clean, contemporary aesthetic, making it well-suited for commercial interiors.
Tomáš Král’s Materra table lamp earned the Best Launched Product by a Producer award for its traditional slip-cast ceramic construction. The piece exemplifies traditional Czech ceramic craft, blending heritage with modern design.
Jílek 1905 also debuted a large-scale luminaire that reinterpreted classic crystal chandeliers for modern settings, reinforcing the festival’s theme of light and the continuity of traditional crafts.
