Designblok Awards 2024: The International Jury Recognizes the Best Works of the 26th Edition
4. 10. 2024
The international jury, led by the co-director of the Dezeen media platform, Benedict Hobson, selected and awarded the winners of the festival's top honors in seven categories. Young international designers, who first met at last year’s festival, students from Berlin, and the new design studio two hundred tons were among the winners. The jury was impressed by the presentation of Květná 1794, a glassworks that faced the threat of bankruptcy earlier this year. The Grand Prix (Award for Outstanding Achievement) was claimed by the glass company Moser, led by its artistic director Jan Plecháč. For the first time, the Impact Award was presented, which went to Studio LLEV, led by the Mochal couple. The jury highlighted their contribution to the evolution of two purely traditional Czech manufacturers – the Harrachov glassworks and the Rautis producer of bead decorations. The Designblok Awards 2024 ceremony took place on Thursday, October 3, 2024, as part of a gala evening at Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle. Voting for the Public Award continues on the website designblok.cz until Sunday evening, when the favorite project will be announced by Czech Radio Radiožurnál.
The goal of the Designblok Awards is to annually highlight the best works from hundreds of exhibitors across the festival in predetermined categories. For the third time, the organizers entrusted the decision to an independent international jury, which toured the festival to thoroughly understand the exhibited works and their creators. The role of president, responsible for the composition of the jury and the voting process, was taken by Ben Hobson, co-director of the world’s most-read design website Dezeen. The jury of the 26th edition of the Designblok Awards also included Yoko Choy, creative consultant, journalist, and head of Wallpaper China* magazine, as well as the Swedish multidisciplinary design duo Emma Marga Blanche and Fredrik Färg. Exhibiting designers had the unique opportunity to present their works personally to top international experts and find out how they fared in global comparisons. “It’s wonderful to be back in Prague, to discover new stories, and to see that the quality of the exhibited projects and their presentations has improved yet again. Designblok is an event that connects quality designers, leading European manufacturers, and also students. It creates a unique platform for inspiration and networking, which not only highlights talents but also helps to create them,” said Hobson.
For the best new designer studio, the jury awarded the brand two hundred tons by Adam and Monika Štok for their collection Unroll, which experiments with shaping metal profiles. “A clear and strong visual language, a presentation polished to the last detail, minimalist and very elegant products – these are qualities you rarely find in such a young brand,” explained Yoko Choy, justifying the jury's decision. The award for the best new manufacturer went to the traditional Czech company MIKOV with the OFFICE collection, designed by Natálie Navrátilová. The jury decided to highlight the collaboration between the young designer and a company with a 230-year history and the strong visual presentation of the collection.
The title for the best designer presentation was awarded to Janek Beau, Friedrich Gerlach, Julia Huhnholz, and Esmée Willemsen for their project Add Wood: Perspectives on Printable Timber. The quartet first met in Prague last year during the Designblok Diploma Selection competition. This year, they returned to the festival to present objects made from the new material econitWood, composed of recycled wood waste, and technologies pushing large-format 3D printing beyond current possibilities, in collaboration with Additive Tectonics. “We deeply appreciate the award. A year ago, we met in Prague while presenting our diploma projects, and during the preparations and the festival, we became friends. Now we stand on stage receiving this prestigious award. It’s a message to young designers that a good team can achieve more together than a good individual. Designblok is our love story!” commented German designer Friedrich Gerlach.
The award for the best manufacturer presentation went to the daring exhibition of the revived glassworks Květná 1794, designed by Klára Janypková and Tomáš Kučera. “A playful and poetic installation that manages to attract the attention of visitors, despite the fact that the glassworks has not yet introduced a new product. Květná 1794 sends a clear signal that there is much to look forward to,” said Emma Marga Blanche. Among the school presentations, the collaboration between the Berlin University of the Arts and Hochschule der Bildenden Künste Saar won, with their students presenting the results of a joint workshop at the French glass center Centre International d'Art Verrier de Meisenthal, under the guidance of professor Ineke Hans and professor Mark Braun.
The Grand Prix (Award for Outstanding Achievement) was won by last year’s double winner, the Moser glassworks, which, in the High Craft exhibition at the Prague Castle Riding Hall, presented new collections as well as sand – the basic raw material for glass production – under the leadership of artistic director Jan Plecháč. “Choosing winners in many categories was difficult this year, but this decision was relatively easy. Moser stood out – showcasing magnificent new pieces that continue the bold creative direction started at last year’s Designblok, while still drawing from the brand’s rich heritage. The presentation was simple, yet powerful and strong at the same time,” emphasized jury president Benedict Hobson.
For the first time in history, the Impact Award was presented during the festival. In the past, this award was given for sustainable design. Based on feedback from international juries, the organizers decided to open the category to a broader range of achievements. “With this award, we wanted to celebrate and bring attention to the work of Studio LLEV, whose contribution lies in a different area. The studio LLEV works with two very traditional companies – the Harrachov Glassworks and the Christmas decoration manufacturer Rautis from Poniklá – and through new collections, creative leadership, rebranding, and other activities, they help ensure their successful future,” added Hobson.
Find the full list of Designblok Awards Nominees and Winners here.
Voting for the Public Award on the website designblok.com continues until Sunday, October 6, at 6:00 PM. The most popular visitor project will be announced by festival director Jana Zielinski after 6:00 PM during a live broadcast on Czech Radio Radiožurnál.
The 26th Designblok continues until October 6, 2024, at Prague Castle, the Museum of Prague, Bastion Florenc, the Museum of Decorative Arts, and other locations around Prague. The Bóda Horák: Biosféra exhibition is open until October 28, 2024. You can find the complete program and tickets on the website designblok.cz.
