2024-03-04 16:12:38
Jan Plecháč became the absolute winner of the Czech Grand Design 2023 awards this Sunday evening. He won the title of Grand Designer of the Year for the Abyss vase, Harmonic vases and the collection of vases and drinking glass Duše lesa, which he designed for the Moser glassworks.
Designer Jiří Jiroutek, who lived from 1928 to 2023 and entered the history of design with the U-450 furniture collection, entered the Hall of Fame of Czech design in memoriam.
The Academy of Design awarded prizes in eight categories. The winners received trophies in the form of a “personal catcher of ideas and dreams” designed by last year’s Grand designers Tereziá Lexová and Štěpán Smetana in Prague’s Estates Theatre. The evening was hosted by the actor Miloslav König, the musical accompaniment was provided by the band Bert & Friends.
The Abyss vase is the first piece designed by Jan Plecháč for the Moser glassworks. | Photo: Kristina Hrabětová
Plecháč’s collection of vases and drinking glasses also won the Designer of the Year award, his collection Duše lesa for Moser was awarded in the Manufacturer of the Year category. Plecháč has been the artistic director of the Karlovy Vary Moser glassworks since 2022. According to Design Academy representative Tereza Bruthansová, he took on his role with humility towards the company’s tradition and the glass material. “With respect for the craft and at the same time with its own enthusiasm, with a sense for sensitive innovation and original design,” she said.
In the Fashion Designer of the Year category, Boris Král, a Slovak designer living in Prague, won with his Salon de Nuit collection and a gown design for actress Daniela Kolářová. He was inspired by his childhood dreams.
The jewelry designer of the year was Klára Marie Bliss with the Banshee collection. According to Andrea Běhounková, a member of the expert jury, the collection is independent of time and trends, is not primarily appealing and does not bow to common commercial requirements.
Modern vases made of hand-cut crystal Jan Plecháč called Harmonic. | Photo: Moser
In the field of graphic design, the award goes to Vítka Škopa’s Vividbooks educational platform, which helps teachers of physics, chemistry and mathematics with teaching in primary schools. Magdalena Rutová became the illustrator of the year for the visual accompaniment to the children’s books Já, hobotnice, Čavargoš/Tulák and Tomatoes and Bananas.
The title of Photographer of the Year was awarded to the SHOTBY.US duo consisting of Lenka Glisníková and Karolína Matušková. They won the title together already in 2020. According to jury representative Tereza Rudolf, they are not afraid to model photography according to their needs in custom work, and thanks to their experience in post-production and video production, they can afford to do a little magic.
As the Discovery of 2022, the Academy of Design chose the creative Totemo kit made of recycled plastic by the designer Adriana Kolda out of 17 nominations. According to jury member Bruthansová, Totemo supports spontaneous play, develops imagination, fine motor skills and creativity, not only in children but also in adults. She also appreciated the emphasis on ecology and sustainability. The couplings are printed on a 3D printer from recycled PET bottles, the construction parts were made from wooden plywood printed with ecological paints.