From Designblok to Nominations for the Prestigious Czech Grand Design Awards
23. 1. 2025
We’re delighted to see so many talented designers from last year’s Designblok now being recognized as nominees for the Czech Grand Design Awards! Once again, Designblok has confirmed its role as a key platform for designers to gain recognition—not only from the Czech Design Academy but also from the press and industry leaders—while presenting the finest in design and craftsmanship.
From new collections by traditional Czech glassworks and leading furniture manufacturers to illustrated covers for Respekt magazine and an experimental website promoting freedom of speech. The selection also includes medals for the 2024 Ice Hockey World Championship, the ceremonial collection for the Czech Olympic and Paralympic teams, photographs for The Times, upcycled writing pens made from toothbrushes, and a table crafted from rammed earth. A total of 80 creators, studios, and companies have the opportunity to win the prestigious Czech Grand Design Award this year. The nominees in eight categories, representing the best of the Czech creative industry over the past year, were selected for the nineteenth time by the Academy of Design of the Czech Republic.
Czech Grand Design is the most prestigious award for Czech designers and creators, granted by the Academy of Design of the Czech Republic since 2006. The awards recognize the most outstanding works of the past year in eight categories: product design, fashion, jewelry, graphic design, photography, illustration, manufacturer, and discovery of the year. The nominated projects were proposed, and the winners selected, by members of the Academy in a three-round voting process without the need for applications. This year, 67 professionals, including Czech and international journalists, curators, gallerists, directors of major cultural institutions, publicists, and design and art theorists, participated in the voting. The goal of the award is to highlight and publicize the work of creators, draw attention to exceptional achievements, and help both experts and the general public navigate the Czech design scene. Czech Grand Design also serves as a key platform connecting the creative, manufacturing, and business sectors.
"Last year was a successful one for Czech design, even on a global scale, which is reflected in the nominations for Czech Grand Design. The Porta installation by Maxim Velčovský earned Lasvit the highest award at the Milan Design Festival, designer Jan Černý captivated audiences with his Olympic and Paralympic ceremonial collection in Paris, the brand LAFORMELA caught the attention of Los Angeles stylists, photographer Lena Knappová shot campaigns for leading brands Ann Demeulemeester and Rick Owens, and Project Identity mapped Czech graphic design and brought it to the forefront of public attention. New talents and brands have also emerged that are worth following. In fashion, for example, Aleš Hnátek, Hana Valtová, and Radka Sirková stand out. In the Manufacturer of the Year category, the Czech kitchenware producer FABINI was recognized for its cutlery set, while significant attention was also given to the evolution of the traditional Harrachov Glassworks under the creative direction of the LLEV studio, led by Eva and Marcel Mochal, as well as the new collections from Rückl Glassworks and its artistic director Kateřina Handlová. In these cases, the Academy of Design rightly acknowledged the fusion of high craftsmanship, Czech glassmaking tradition, and top-tier design. Sustainability and innovative material approaches were also key themes, exemplified by the work of JanskyDundera & kolemhlíny," says Jana Zielinski, director of Designblok and a member of the Czech Grand Design Preparatory Committee. She adds: "Across all categories, we see a strong presence of high craftsmanship, originality, and creativity among Czech designers collaborating with top companies. High-quality design is increasingly integrated into the everyday lives of Czech society. This fulfills one of the main goals of Czech Grand Design—implementing design’s positive impact on our country’s competitiveness and functionality. We congratulate all nominees and thank everyone who supports Czech designers."
For the first time, the public will be introduced to the work of the finalists through the SHOTBY.US: Space of Desire exhibition at Kunsthalle Praha. The grand announcement of the winners in all categories, including the overall winner—Grand Designer of 2024—and the new honorary member of the Czech Design Hall of Fame, will take place at a creative gala evening at the Estates Theatre in Prague on Monday, March 3, 2025, at 8:00 PM. The event will be broadcast live on ČT art and iVysílání.
Find the full list of nominees at czechgranddesign.cz.
