Zlin Design Week 2024
8. March 2024What does the future hold for us? You can find the answer to this precise question from May 8 to 14, 2024, when Zlín will become a center of design and innovation as part of the 10th jubilee year of the Zlin Design Week festival. The program of the festival, created under the Faculty of Multimedia Communications of Tomas Bata University, promises a packed week full of inspiring exhibitions, workshops, performance, and a Fashion Show with the theme “Future is.”
Zlin Design Week will once again offer visitors a diverse program at several locations, including the city’s most famous landmarks, such as the Bata Monument, Zlín Castle, or the Svit factory complex. Through parts of the program, the organizers want to highlight and respond to issues resonating in contemporary society concerning the future.
“We want to open up debates about a future that is resilient to climate and social challenges and accessible to all, considering everyone’s needs. At the same time, it is a future where new technologies create extraordinary experiences. We want to devote the most space to this concept at the main festival exhibition, Future is!, presenting Czech and international projects that will show the power of design in building our future”, explains program director Ondřej Staněk.
Visitors can choose from both paid and unpaid segments of the program, which are published on the festival’s website. All information about tickets and festival accreditations is also available there. This year, the festival-wide accreditation in the basic version for 690 CZK includes entrance to all the main events. So, it’s for everyone who wants to fully absorb the atmosphere of the future of design.
Opening of the festival, vernissage of the exhibition Future is! and opening party
The festival’s main exhibition, launching on Tuesday, May 8, will focus on core issues and possibilities concerning methods and approaches in tomorrow’s design world. The exhibition is designed to stimulate discussion around the opportunities and challenges facing design in the future and its potential impact on society.
Celebrating the opening of this exhibition will be enriched in the courtyard of the Zlín Castle by an opening party with musical accompaniment by the Himalayan Dalai Lama group, known for its performances in the genre of instrumental electronic music.
Conference Design na hranici
Design na hranici conference, focusing on the current topics of digital design, product design, and motion design, will take place on Thursday, May 9. This year’s edition promises a rich program and discussion on the latest trends and innovations in the fields mentioned before. Speakers will include Mike Derycke, who works on coding at the Digital Design Studio in Brussels, and Ivan Flores from Motionhouse, who will talk about the world of motion design, specifically on the topic of “How to survive in the commercial world.”
Fashion show with afterparty
The Fashion show “Future is spectrum”, scheduled for Friday, May 10, is based on the idea that the future is not a simple linear path but a dynamic spectrum of possibilities. This concept embraces diversity, individuality, and the ever-evolving nature of our journey into the unknown.
After the Fashion Show ends, all visitors are invited to a party in Building 44 in the Bata Svit complex, where visual artist and rapper Arleta will perform to liven up the evening atmosphere.
Design Dazzle, Powered by PechaKucha
On the evening of Monday, May 13, a special part of the program dedicated to open discussions between artists from different creative fields will occur. The PechaKucha event will provide a unique opportunity for architects, designers, artists, and theorists to mingle and share their ideas.
Best in Design Ceremony
On the evening of Saturday, May 11, the results of the Best in Design 2024 international competition for young designers under 30 will be announced at the Tomas Bata Memorial. Zlin Design Week has been supporting these young talents for a long time, showing their work to the world and giving them the courage not to be afraid to step out of their comfort zone.
“The award ceremony is open by invitation only, but all the finalists’ works will be displayed in the G18 gallery at the exhibition Future is Best of ’24! from May 9 to 24, free of charge,” informs Michaela Kottová, festival spokesperson.
As part of their support for young designers, the organizers also work with the winners and finalists during the festival. A beautiful example is the fashion experience “Fashion performance X Our Shift,” prepared for Sunday, May 12, by Milan Flíček, winner of the Best in Design 2020 title and founder of the Our Shift brand. It is here that he will unveil his collection, the production of which used recycled banners and surplus clothing from Skoda. The aim was to transform these materials into unique and sustainable fashion pieces, promoting the idea of recycling and creative use of unused goods.
Accompanying program
A series of workshops is prepared for festival visitors by Robota, a creative digital workshop created and run by the Faculty of Multimedia Communications at the University of Technology in Zlín. The accompanying program also includes activities prepared by the educational platform Designéři dětem. The organization aims to connect design and education through creative workshops. Besides education in a fun way, Zlin Design Week is all about creating impressions and memories and gathering inspiration. Therefore, visitors can also attend discussions with the podcast platform Design KANTÝNA, guided tours of the Tomas Bata Memorial, an organized walk through the city of Zlín, a pop-up shop, or yoga. More information about the program and tickets are available on the Zlin Design Week website.