Today, Designblok, the largest domestic design exhibition, starts in Prague

Prague – Today, the 25th year of the design and fashion showcase Designblok will begin in Prague. It will take place at the Trade Fair Palace, the Museum of Applied Arts, in the grounds of Prague Castle, and at many other locations in shops and showrooms. The connecting theme of this anniversary edition, which will showcase contemporary Czech and international design, fashion, and jewelry, is the journey. Designblok will last until October 8, with two exhibitions at Prague Castle running until October 15.

The showcase will feature 227 exhibiting authors and brands. There will be workshops, lectures, fashion shows, foreign guests, themed exhibitions, and experimental and sustainable projects. The festival is newly organizing a School Day for students and pupils.

The exhibition spaces at the Trade Fair Palace of the National Gallery in Prague will present innovations in domestic and international design in the Superstudio space showcasing companies and brands and the Openstudio intended for designers, students, and independent creators. In the Great Hall, there will be lectures, discussions, and other accompanying programs. The theme of ecological design and materials will include a block of lectures dedicated to sustainability.

The Small Hall will host 16 fashion shows on October 7 featuring creations from fashion designers across Europe who made it to the finals of the Designblok Diploma Selection competition. The work of established designers will mingle with emerging authors and brands. Workshops called Bohemian Perfection, during which participants can create painted sneakers or textiles with folk patterns, as well as creative workshops named Designers for Children, will also be prepared.

On the first floor of the Museum of Applied Arts, the successful exhibition of family businesses and traditional manufacturers, Family Silver, will continue from last year's editions. Openstudio in the Museum of Applied Arts will debut the exhibition project High Craft.

During the festival, the finals of the 9th year of the international competition for diploma works in product and fashion design, Designblok Diploma Selection, will take place. The festival is newly organizing a School Day for students and pupils, which will happen on today's opening day, accompanied by an educational program featuring a series of free access lectures and discussions.

In the Royal Garden at Prague Castle, Designblok is preparing the main exhibition Designblok Cosmos. In this unique space, it promises to present the largest traveling project in the festival's twenty-five-year history, "a showcase of contemporary Czech design as well as a tangible manifesto of shared values." An installation reminiscent of a haunted house for the visitor coming from outside will offer attendees an unusual experience resulting from their stay in a mirror room complemented by glass artifacts from dozens of Czech designers. The effect of the mirrored walls evokes a sense of infinity in the visitor. A mobile gallery will debut in front of the Ball Game Hall of Prague Castle, with its first stop beyond the borders being the Milan Design Week in April 2024.

Inside the Ball Game Hall, the exhibition project Made by Fire will be presented. It features a hundred original works and exhibits from the Czech Republic. Objects made of glass, porcelain, and ceramics originating from the forges of Czech kilns. The exhibition will showcase almost a hundred exhibits.