The tenth Zlin Design Week keeps the gates of its competition for young designers under 30, Best in Design, still open. It expands the horizons of art, leads to inspiration, and hints at the future. How can one be one of those who are fueled forward by obstacles on the path to their goal, and each challenge holds a new beginning and an opportunity to shine? We discussed this topic with one of the judges, Adrián Gubrica, who experienced the competition first-hand in the Communication Design category.
Adrián, what motivated you to enter the Best in Design (BiD) competition?
I’m quite the competitive type, so I entered multiple contests during my time as a student. I always found it beneficial to compare my projects against other students from different schools across the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and abroad.
So I entered the Best in Design competition repeatedly, and of course, I was hoping that one day I would place on the top ranks. And maybe it was also because of the posters organizers put up every year above the men’s urinals in the U16 building at Tomas Bata University (laughs), which were hard to ignore.
What played the most significant role in your decision to apply for BiD? Was there anything that left you hesitant?
Of course, no one enjoys filling out lengthy application forms, reading the terms and conditions, and reworking each project to meet the specific requirements of the competition, even taking several hours if one wants to do it honestly. If one has just a lot of things going on, it can be very influential in deciding whether this is the way or not.
And what advice would you give to young designers facing similar doubts right now?
I think many young designers, in addition to filling out applications, also face the problem of not believing in themselves. Even though they are very talented. If I were to give anyone any advice, it would be to make the most of these opportunities; it almost always gives you something.
Given your experience underlined by success, how would you describe what was going on inside you? (Author’s note: Adrián Gubrica won Best in Design in the Communication Design category in 2023, with his winning design Mariupol Digital Memorial.)
I was pleasantly surprised by the kind, friendly, and professional approach of the organizers – which is not always the norm – As well as the opportunity to present my project in the final, right before the jury. I think it’s a great way to give the designers a chance to present their projects and add what didn’t fit in the application.
Can you highlight specific moments that accompanied you through the competition, and in what ways did this experience move you the most?
I don’t remember specific moments from the competition; not much happened back then. Perhaps the experience of standing on the stage during the announcement of the winners, where I discovered that I couldn’t see the audience and that my own voice was extremely distracting when speaking into the microphone (laughs), moved me the most. Hopefully, I will be better prepared after this experience!
What were the reactions of those around you? It is customary for the author to look up to the words of more experienced colleagues; whose words pleased you?
The most significant reactions for me came from the Ukrainian students I have had the opportunity to get to know recently, who found my project meaningful and relevant. I also very much appreciate the positive response from my classmates and the management of the Digital Design Studio at the Faculty of Multimedia Communications at Tomas Bata University in Zlín.
Your work deals with social themes, as we have already announced above. How do you approach the reflection of these issues in your projects? What is the key for you?
I probably won’t say anything groundbreaking, but I need to be creative and come up with ideas that reframe the problem into a form that the user hasn’t had a chance to encounter before – and thanks to that, my solution can be inspiring, shocking, or it can excite or entertain them, for example.
Is there anything that links your projects?
Probably not; each project requires an individual approach. In some places, I take a more artistic approach; in others, I focus on functionality and accessibility.
I am also interested in the challenges of bridging the worlds of design and computer coding. That’s a Spanish village for the layman and perhaps artists of a different stripe, or am I wrong?
I think that for many people, the challenge is in the sheer interconnection of the two disciplines. Many times, I’ve encountered someone who took an art major for the sake of not having to study anything even remotely related to mathematics. Moreover, I’m convinced that for many designers, the programming knowledge would advance them in many ways (also in design), opening up new possibilities for self-realization, optimizing their work, and, most importantly, giving them a little better understanding of what they design.
Of course, when programming 3D graphics (including AR), there are the most challenges, requiring knowledge on every front, but I enjoy it immensely. Can you imagine how fascinating linear algebra can be?
How did your first place in the Communication category help you shape the future direction of your work?
I feel like I’ve established myself more as a creative developer, and people associate me more with that particular design area.
Let’s go back to your new role as a judge. For the first time, you will experience Zlin Design Week from a different side of the table. What are your expectations, and what are you looking forward to?
Like probably every competitor, I’ve tended to be critical of the results of some of the competitions I’ve entered in the past – especially the ones I didn’t place in (laughs). But I’m even more excited to see this year’s Best in Design competition from the other side and to try out the admittedly challenging role of a judge. At the same time, I believe that I can enrich the judging process with my expertise.
Before we say goodbye, do you have a motto, an idea that accompanies you on your design journey and could be an impulse for aspiring designers?
The other day, I was particularly amused by the German expression “Sitzfleisch” – which in German, beside “’sitting meat” also means perseverance in complex tasks. I guess that’s my approach to work as well. ‘Good ideas don’t come easily, and sometimes you just have to “sit it out”‘.
A small reminder for the applicants at the end. We are eager to receive your applications, as you can compete in many categories. Applications are open until February 4, 2024, so don’t be afraid to take a step forward on your journey (to) the future!
