Bára Kolondrová and Eliška Janečková are running Zlin Design Week for the first time this year. In this interview, they spoke about what it’s like to direct a festival with such a strong and diverse community, why is love for creation key for them and how it will reflect on the programme. They also shared what they would like to pass onto the festival visitors – from inspiration and emotions to new experiences – and revealed what design lovers can look forward to during the 12th edition.
What was it like to take responsibility for a project with such a strong community and name? How are you enjoying it so far?
“I can speak for both of us when I say we are both enjoying it very much,” Eliška says. “Over time, however, we realized time passes so quickly – since then I feel like it’s running three times as fast.”
Bára adds that along with it, the feeling of responsibility increases. “We try to approach it very responsibly, but luckily this role isn’t completely foreign to us. In previous editions of the festival, we have already experienced leading smaller teams. This time, the size of the team simply increased from five people to over ninety.”
“Despite this, it’s a pleasant experience and something that gives us a lot,” Bára closes.
Zlin Design Week has a long-standing tradition. Do you want to bring changes into it, or rather follow up on what already works?
They both agree that Zlin Design Week has a strong foundation which they want to build on.
“We don’t want to redesign the concept from scratch,” Eliška explains. “The festival was founded with a beautiful idea, which we want to develop further. But we also respond to the changing world and the visitor’s expectations.”
Bára specifies the programme will become more open to the public and it will focus on the weekend, when the most people are coming. “We’re not in Prague, where something is happening every day. The weekend will be more packed, but we still want the visitors to have something to discover even during the week.”
What is it like to direct the festival as a duo?
Collaboration is working well for us. “We each have a different perspective and different skills, and that’s exactly what our biggest advantage is,” Eliška says. “I study marketing communications and Bára studies industrial design, so we complement each other and teach each other.”
Bára adds that they already collaborated closely last year and that it was a great experience, which showed them they can function together even under pressure. “Last year, we tried out close cooperation with other sections – Eliška directed the Best In Design competition, while I directed the Architecture and Festival Design section – but we also prepared the exhibition curation. That was our first direct collaboration and it worked great.”
Are you able to see each other’s strengths and say what you appreciate about each other?
“Bára is a person who can tune into the energy of each person and get along well with them. She is naturally funny, empathetic, and can create an environment in which everyone feels good,” Eliška says.
“One thing I admire about Eliška is that she’s very organized,” Bára says with a smile. “I’m very spontaneous, while she always has everything under control. While I usually arrange things, Eliška knows how to follow through with them – and that’s why it’s a match.”
Have you ever had different opinions which you had to resolve?
It took them the longest time discussing the topic and the name of the upcoming edition. “We had different opinions than the festival management and finding the right thing took us a lot of time. When we finally agreed, it took us a while to get used to it, but then it was good,” Eliška says.
The topic of the 12th edition of Zlin Design Week is LOVE. How was this idea born?
The topic of this year’s edition came from the desire to name something strong, provocative, but also human and relatable to all participants. “We wanted a topic which will surprise the public, which will make them ponder and which will evoke emotions,” Bára says. Eventually, what came out of the team’s debates was love – a topic which can be both sharp and caring.
Eliška adds that the main objective is to show that design can listen, connect people and return to values such as quality, honesty and meaningful creation.
What forms of love do you want the festival to showcase?
“When you say love, most people imagine something intimate,” Eliška says. “But we perceive it as love for the craft – love for creation, courage and care.” She adds that the festival also wants to show empathy, mental and physical wellbeing of designers or social overlap.
Bára adds that love also includes mistakes. “I want it to be seen that failure also has a place in creation. The festival should be a safe space where people rediscover their passion for their work.”
Can you give us a teaser about the programme?
“We can definitely reveal a little something,” they both laugh. They then reveal that the accompanying programme will be expanded with new activities, in order for the visitors to enjoy the festival even more. And they also promise we’ll see more exhibitions.
Do you think good design can be created without love for what we’re creating?
Eliška thinks a functional design can be created like that, but not a design that will truly touch someone. “When you create with care and enthusiasm, you can feel it from the result. That energy is imprinted on the work and elevates it to something more than just a nice product,” she says.
Bára agrees. “You said that very nicely. Love and passion are key in design, especially if it’s supposed to make sense to people. The best things are not flashy – they simply work and there is a piece of the person in them who created them with his heart.”
What do you wish the festival visitors take away from the upcoming edition?
Eliška says it isn’t only about inspiration, but also about a powerful experience that will stay with people. She wishes they connect the festival with an emotion which they won’t forget, and wish to return.
Bára adds that she would like people to leave pleasantly “exhausted” – full of impressions, emotions and new ideas. “Let it linger in them for a while and let them say to themselves: yeah, I want to experience that again,” she smiles.
How would you describe Zlin Design Week in three words?
Eliška chooses “purpose, joy and courage”, Bára continues: “Inspiration, enthusiasm and finally, of course, love!”
