Tereza has been part of the editorial team since 2020 and now leads it. Not long ago, she accepted our invitation for an interview and shared with us not only her vision for the magazine and its content in the coming year but also her personal perspective on the Czech design scene.
Where do you see Czech design in five years? Do we have what it takes to be among the world’s best? And what, in your opinion, holds Czech designers back the most from international success?
Czech design definitely has the potential to be world-class!
I see the biggest obstacle to international success in the still insufficient support for young talents, even though we have plenty of them in the Czech Republic. I get the impression that Czech e-shops offering local design are not actively trying to export Czech design abroad, although a few platforms are making the effort. Czech glass is, of course, a great export product—it has earned its global reputation. I believe that Czech design will retain its local roots and emphasis on craftsmanship and tradition, and that investors in various sectors will increasingly recognize quality design as a powerful tool for competitiveness.
Organizations like the Association of Czech Industrial Design do a commendable job of supporting Czech companies and their international promotion. However, when it comes to individual designers who find success abroad, it’s often the result of their own persistent efforts to gain visibility, typically through trade fairs and exhibitions. But that requires significant financial resources. Designers will undoubtedly face many challenges, including the rise of artificial intelligence. I can imagine that AI will streamline many processes (not at the expense of quality), and potentially help democratize the final price of a product or service. Over time, more emphasis will naturally be placed on upholding the principles of sustainability in the development of every new product.
What current interior design trends do you personally enjoy the most?
In our Czechdesign column “Living Like a Designer,” we explore and visit interiors not only of Czech designers. I enjoy the individuality and diversity, regardless of trends. If I had to highlight just one trend, it would be sustainability in the sense of responsible investment in furnishings that ideally, I won’t want to change every 10 years. Buying a dining table for life—even if it’s not made of sustainable materials—can ultimately be a much more eco-friendly choice than replacing it multiple times.
What are your main visions and plans for the magazine? What would you like to change or develop further?
We want to focus on article series like the new “Design at the Start” series. Through interviews, we explore the journeys of young designers, tracking how complex the nature of this profession can be and what kind of “magic” it takes to break through. We also plan to develop new recurring editorial columns. I would love for readers to return not just for the content, but also for specific authors.
Another major ambition of ours is to become a financially stable media outlet in the long term. The magazine remains a non-profit activity of the organization as a whole. Covering the operational costs of an online medium is an increasing challenge, especially at a time when cultural journalism is often the first thing on the chopping block in larger editorial offices.
What is your ideal vision for the content of Czechdesign? Should it be more educational, inspirational, or provocative?
A bit of everything. Although I wouldn’t use the word “provocative” in this context. We don’t want to provoke readers or interviewees with our content; rather, we want to uncover context and map events that influence Czech design.
With us, you’ll read not only about design news, but also about the impact of the political situation on Slovak design, cool café recommendations, or the reasons behind the breakup of the founding team of the Czech brand Papelote.
Our long-term goal is to position Czechdesign.cz as a hub for anyone interested in design—whether it’s the general public, designers, or young people considering a career in the field.
We’d like to offer readers slow reading in the form of in-depth interviews or by spotlighting “forgotten” faces and icons of Czech design. We also want to uncover social topics where design plays a role. At the same time, part of our content remains lifestyle-oriented, offering short, inspiring, and informative pieces.
Through our “News” section, we bring fresh updates from the design world. In addition to articles, we offer tips for events and a clear education section with complete information on where design can be studied in the Czech Republic.dostanete také tipy kam na akce a nabízíme i přehlednou sekci zaměřenou na vzdělávání, kde lze najít kompletní informace o tom, kde všude se u nás dá design studovat.
Czechdesign is known not only as a magazine but also as an organizer and supporter of design projects. What new initiatives or collaborations are currently in the works?
Answered by Dominik Janoušek, Head of the Project Team.
We have several projects in preparation, awaiting their official announcements. Right now, they mostly involve design competitions for new visual identities. We can reveal that both cities and institutions from all corners of the Czech Republic are involved.
Additionally, we’re preparing a DIY visual identity kit for a Prague museum. As part of our long-term initiative focusing on wayfinding systems, we’re currently preparing research for the Masaryk Cancer Institute in Brno—we’re truly excited about this project and hope to see more like it in the future.
Lastly, we’re collaborating on a wayfinding workshop that will take place in May as part of the Zlin Design Week.
The Czechdesign shop offers carefully selected products from Czech designers. What criteria do you use when selecting new brands and products?
Answered by Simona Hertlová, Curator and Product Specialist.
We believe that design is for everyone, and our selection reflects that. We try to diversify the portfolio, among other factors, by price. Whether someone wants to get a design piece for under 500 CZK or is a connoisseur willing to invest more in jewelry or glass that will last a lifetime, there’s something for everyone.
We also consider whether a product fits into our existing categories or has the potential to open a new one. Of course, it’s crucial that the product comes from a Czech or Slovak brand—but that doesn’t mean the founders have to reside nearby. For example, we collaborate with Klára Marie Bliss, last year’s Czech Grand Design jewelry award winner, who primarily resides in Antwerp, Belgium—and that hasn’t stopped her from delivering her products or succeeding in sales.
