The 25th edition of Designblok Prague

Designblok is now at its 25th edition. An exciting opportunity to address the theme, JOURNEY, which thus also crowns a record of excellence made by contemporary Czech design. Designblok will take place for the first time in the Exhibition Palace, the largest exhibition space in the National Gallery in Prague, and for the third time in the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague. 

"The first Designblok took place in 1999, so I dare say that the 21st century is, among other things, the century of Czech design. Just as form should follow function, Czech design and industry are finally following consumer demand for better and higher quality products, which despite all past crises continue to grow", says Jana Zielinski, founder and Director of the Designblok festival, and continues: "This autumn, together with our prestigious host institutions, we have created an unforgettable event for the Czech cultural scene with a strong international influence."



The Exhibition Palace hosts an exhibition focusing mainly on new Czech and international design, which follows the usual Superstudio and Openstudio format, bringing together international brands and manufacturers with designers and design studios. In addition, the exhibition space of the Exhibition Palace hosts Diploma Selection, featuring an international exhibition, fashion shows (Designerie) and a stage for lectures, talks and other events.



The Museum of Decorative Arts, on the other hand, repeats the success of the curated exhibition Family Silver, organised in collaboration with Forbes magazine. Presenting stories of family-run businesses, Family Silver tells of entrepreneurial tenacity, the recovery and enhancement of traditional factories and craft workshops, and stories of new brands with a green footprint that have sprung up and grown in recent decades. Openstudio also uses the spaces of the Museum of Decorative Arts to present the special exhibition High Craft, realised in collaboration with Vogue CS. The exhibition hosts Czech designers and design studios whose work combines traditional craftsmanship, innovative approaches and high aesthetic standards. Redrawing the boundaries between art and design, on the other hand, is Art House, the third exhibition in the Museum of Decorative Arts.



The 25th anniversary of the Designblok festival is also an opportunity to present a series of special projects. The first is the travelling exhibition Designblok Cosmos, staged in cooperation with the PPF Foundation.
"The travelling exhibition Designblok Cosmos will tour the world, carrying the flag of Czech glass abroad, and it was its nomadic nature that inspired me most in conceiving the design of the exhibition. My aim was to create a real exhibition, a travelling circus that would introduce visitors to design in a slightly different light than they are used to, while offering an impressive audio-visual experience", says Jan Plecháč, Designblok Cosmos's organiser.

“Designu neutečeš!” (You can't get away from design!), is another of the special projects at this edition of the festival, a book that recounts a quarter of a century of Czech design, reconstructing its role within society..

Many leading figures from the international design world are taking part in this year's Designblok, confirming the importance and scope of the festival on an international scale: Dutch designer Ineke Hans, Dezeen executive director Benedict Hobson, and internationally renowned curators and gallerists such as Rossana Orlandi, Lina Kanafani and Giulio Cappellini. 

Designblok – International Design Festival Prague
4 – 8 October 2023 | www.designblok.cz