The main prize of Designblok was won by Velčovský with chandeliers made from buckets

photo: Designblok

Prague - The absolute winner of the award ceremony during the 18th edition of the domestic design and fashion showcase Designblok has today been Maxim Velčovský. He created an installation specifically for Designblok resembling giant chandeliers made from plastic barrels called Sunflower. This was announced by the spokesperson of the showcase Bára Švehlová. Designblok runs until Monday at the Industrial Palace in Prague's Exhibition Grounds and other locations in Prague.

In addition to the main prize, the organizers awarded 11 additional prizes. In the category of best new furniture, they selected the Tutu cradle, designed by Roman Vrtiška and Vladimír Žák for the company Devoto. They have been collaborating since their studies at the AAAD (Academy of Art, Architecture and Design). Vrtiška already achieved success during his studies - in 2008 he received the National Award for Student Design for a bench for the city. Together with Vladimír Žák, they work on projects in the fields of architecture, product design, and graphic design.

As the best jewelry collection at Designblok, the jury selected the presentation from the duo of jewelers Zdeněk Vacek and Daniel Pošta, who create under the brand Zorya. Four years ago, they received the title of Grand Designer of the Year for the Virus collection, in which they experimented with chemical processes, first trying to grow crystals of alum on chains made from ropes, and then created jewelry from red gold or surgical steel with raw diamonds, pearls, and pyrites. Today they scored with the collections Cluster, Formula, and Graft.

The best lighting collection is from the brand Bomma, which traditionally excels at annual industry awards Czech Grand Design. The jury awarded them today for the collections Soap, designed by Ota Svoboda, and Phenomena, simple lights in geometric shapes designed by the studio Dechem, last year's main winner of the Czech Grand Design awards. These are organized by the agency Profil Media, just like Designblok.

According to the organizers, Velčovský drew inspiration from Czech DIY culture and Přemek Podlaha when creating the Sunflowers. "Special chandeliers made from plastic buckets completed the landscape of the Designerie in the central hall of the Industrial Palace," it stated.

"Visitors could also see the work of Maxim Velčovský at the Art House, which traditionally showcases projects at the intersection of art and design, where Velčovský exhibited the chandelier Memento Mori, produced by the brand Lasvit. In the Superstudio, a window design for the Czech brand Janošík Okna-Dveře was on display," it added.

About two hundred creators presented innovations at Designblok. The new Škoda Kodiaq car also had its Czech premiere at the showcase.