Fashion show during sunset, inspiring discussions, exhibitions, workshops and parties! All signs point to the start of the 10th Zlin Design Week festival on May 8. What are the five most attractive parts of the program you can’t miss?
“This year, visitors can look forward not only to inspiring exhibitions and installations at several locations in Zlín but also, for example, to an exclusive Fashion show during sunset. I would personally recommend everyone to visit the main festival exhibition, Future is! It shows that there are designers all around the world who are creating new systems, developing more sustainable materials, experimenting with technology, and giving a voice to those who are silenced. They are just not afraid to look for ways to create a better future. Among the projects on display, for example, Crafted Liberation – scarves donated by Iranian women from around the world are being transformed into stadium seats by the design duo of Nila Rezaei and Christopher Krainer, through which they tell the stories of their fight for equality,” says Jitka Smolíková, the festival’s dramaturg, in her introduction to the program of the tenth year.
What’s on the program?
- Opening ceremony at Zlín Castle
The 10th year of the festival will officially start on Wednesday, May 8, at the Zlín Castle. The opening will combine the vernissage of the mentioned exhibition Future is! presenting projects dealing with themes and approaches shaping our future, followed by an afterparty. The Himalayan Dalai Lama group will provide the music for this festive evening.
- A conference not only for designers
On Thursday, May 9, the conference Design na hranici will feature countless distinguished speakers from across the globe speaking about digital design, product design, and motion design. Among the speakers will be Mike Derycke, who works on coding at the Digital Design Studio in Brussels, and Ivan Floreš from Motionhouse, who will talk about the world of motion design, specifically on the topic of “How to survive in a commercial world.”
- 10 fashion designers will unveil their collections during sunset
Friday’s Fashion show, “Future is spectrum,” and the following after-party are probably the biggest highlights of this year’s festival. Eight female fashion designers and two male designers will present their work. Just by the title of one of the collections, “So that you don’t shit yourself,” the event promises an unconventional look at the future of the fashion industry. Headlining the ensuing after-party will be rapper, producer, and visual artist Arleta.
- Workshop | Speculative design as a tool for the debate on young people’s mental health
The speculative design workshop will focus on bringing together design theory and practice with application to real and current mental health challenges for young people, particularly those with ADHD or anxiety. Participants will learn about speculative design principles and how they can be used in the public sector, emphasizing creative thinking and innovative approaches to problem-solving. The practical part of the workshop will involve working with speculative technologies and tools in dystopian scenarios that reflect the current needs of young people. The workshop, which will take place on May 13, will be led by Roman Sellner Novotný and Veronika Sellner.
- Zlín Design Dazzle, Powered by PechaKucha
On Monday evening, you can’t miss a special part of the program, focused on discussions between artists across creative disciplines – Design Dazzle, Powered by PechaKucha. One of the lectures will feature Linda Procházková, winner of the Best in Design competition, formerly known as Design Talent. The competition, linked to Zlin Design Week, is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, which naturally prompts a debate on how the contest can influence a designer’s career. In addition to Linda, other speakers include representatives of Budějovice 2028 in the context of winning the title of European Capital of Culture, or Adam Komůrka, a digital designer whose portfolio includes visual identity for the Anděl Awards or stage design for artists Calin & Viktor Sheen.
You can still buy tickets for the paid parts of the program on the GoOut portal. For more information on all program parts, please visit the website www.zlindesignweek.com.
