Zlin Design Week
7. March 2024What does the future hold for us? You can find an answer to precisely this question from 8 to 14 May 2024, when Zlín will become a hub of design and innovation as part of the tenth anniversary edition of the Zlin Design Week festival. The programme of the festival organized by the Faculty of Multimedia Communications of Tomas Bata University promises a packed week of inspiring exhibitions, workshops, performances and a Fashion Show entitled “Future Is”.
Once again, after a year, the Zlin Design Week will offer a varied programme taking place in several locations comprising the most famous landmarks of the town of Zlín such as the Bata Memorial, the Zlín Chateau or the Svit factory complex. Parts of the programme are expected to draw attention to and respond to issues resonating with the contemporary society in relation to the future.
“We want to open debates about a future that is resilient to climate and social challenges and accessible to everybody, taking into account the needs of each and every one of us. At the same time, it is a future where new technologies create extraordinary experiences. We want to dedicate the most space to this concept at the main festival exhibition entitled Future Is! presenting Czech and international projects that will show the power of design important for the development of our future,” explains Ondřej Staněk, Festival Programme Director.
Attendees can choose from paid and free programme items listed on the on the festival website. Here, they will also find information about tickets and festival accreditations. The full-event accreditation, in the basic version for CZK 690, includes admission to all major events this year. It is, therefore, intended for all those who want to thoroughly soak up the atmosphere of the future of design.
Opening of the festival, opening preview of the Future Is! Exhibition, opening party
The festival’s main exhibition, which kicks off on Tuesday, 8 May, will focus on key questions and possibilities related to methods and approaches in the world of future design. The exhibition has been designed in such a manner as to initiate a discussion about the opportunities and challenges awaiting design in the future and about its potential impact on the society.
The opening preview of this exhibition will be celebrated at an opening party taking place in the courtyard of the Zlín Chateau and featuring a performance by the Himalayan Dalai Lama band famous for their performances in the genre of instrumental electronic music.
“Design on the Border” Conference
The “Design on the Border” conference focusing on current topics of digital design, product design and motion design will take place on Thursday, 9 May. This year’s edition promises a wide-ranging programme as well as discussions on the latest trends and innovations in the above-mentioned fields. Among the speakers, Mike Derycke, who deals with coding in a digital design studio based in Brussels, or Ivan Floreš from the Motionhouse company, who will talk about the world of motion design, specifically on the topic of “How to Survive in the Commercial World”, can be named.
Fashion show and after-event party
The “Future Is a Spectrum” fashion show, scheduled for Friday, 10 May, is based on the idea that the future is not a simple linear path, but rather a dynamic spectrum of possibilities. This concept encompasses diversity, individuality, and the ever-evolving nature of our journey into the unknown.
After the end of the fashion show, all guests are invited to come to a party to be held in the building No. 44 in the former Bata Svit factory complex, where the evening atmosphere will be enriched by a performance by the visual artist and rapper Arleta.
Design Dazzle powered by PechaKucha
On Monday, 13 May, a special part of the programme will take place in the evening, focusing on open discussions involving artists from various creative fields. The PechaKucha event will offer a unique opportunity for architects, designers, artists and theoreticians to meet and share their ideas.
Best in Design Ceremony
On the evening of Saturday, 11 May, the results of the Best in Design 2024 international contest, which is intended for young designers under thirty years of age, will be announced at the Tomas Bata Memorial. The Zlin Design Week has been supporting such young talents in the long term, showing their works to the world and encouraging them not to be afraid to step out of their comfort zone.
“Only invited guests are admitted to the award ceremony, however, all works by the finalists will be on display in the G18 Gallery at the Future Is Best of ’24 exhibition from 9 to 24 May free of charge,” says Michaela Kottová, the Festival’s spokesperson.
As part of the support of young designers, the organizers also collaborate with the winners and runner-ups in the course of the festival. An excellent example is the fashion event entitled “Fashion Performance X Our Shift”, prepared by Milan Flíček, a holder of the Best in Design 2020 title and a founder of the Our Shift brand, and scheduled for Sunday, 12 May. This is precisely the place where he will present his collection made by using recycled banners and surplus pieces of clothing provided by the Škoda company. The aim was to transform these materials into unique and sustainable fashion pieces, thus supporting the idea of recycling and creative use of unused goods.
Supporting programme
A series of workshops organized by the Zlín-based Robota, a creative digital workshop put on and run by the Faculty of Multimedia Communications of TBU, has been prepared for festival attendees. As part of the supporting programme, the Designers for Children educational platform has also prepared a number of activities. The aim of the organization is to connect design and education by means of creative workshops. Besides edutainment, the Zlin Design Week mainly focuses on creating of experiences, memories and collecting of inspiration. Therefore, festival attendees can also take part in discussions within the CANTEEN Design podcast platform, in guided tours of the Tomas Bata Memorial, an organized walk around the town of Zlín, a Pop-Up Shop or yoga training. More information about the programme and about the tickets can be found on the Zlin Design Week website.
