ProtiMysl

Online Postcard App by the Czech Post

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 09:24:00 +0000

Ok, so what I'm about to write about is not exactly a standard topic for this blog but I found the product so great, I just had to share. Plus I haven't really come across this anywhere else...

A few days ago the Czech Post launched a new app called the Online Postcard. As you can maybe already guess from the name, the app lets users create and mail postcards from their personal photos. I downloaded the app and gave it a go. The app is in Beta testing, so there may be a few glitches here and there... I particularly noticed a few mistakes in the English translation but other than that it worked perfectly fine.

The process is quite simple. You start by selecting the size of your postcard from 3 available formats. You then select the photo you would like to use. You can select one from your phone, take a new photo or use a template. Before filling out the backside you can edit the photo (crop, rotate, filter, etc.). You then add the addressee (the app can pull contacts from your phone or you input the address manually) and your message. The app offers four default colors, letter fonts and sizes. Finally, you enter your email, accept the terms & conditions and proceed to online payment through PayU. The postcard will be printed and sent for delivery the next working day after payment. The same postcard can be sent to up to 10 addresses at the same time. You can also save your created postcards in drafts.

The actual app is free to download, payment is for the printing and delivery of the card. The prices vary depending on the size of the card and the country of delivery. To give you an idea, a standard sized postcard delivered within the Czech Republic will cost you 25 Kč, the same card within the EU will cost 37 Kč and outside Europe 42 Kč. Very affordable if you ask me and definitely worth the money!

Available for free on Google Play (Android) and the App Store (iOS), more information in English check the website here. The app can be downloaded here.

Czech Grand Design 2014 Winners

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Mar 2015 20:18:00 +0000

The results are out! Below is a list of the winners of this year's Czech Grand Design Awards.

Designer of the Year
DECHEM - Materiálová váza (Křehký), Vase study, Bandasky, Laboratory Lights (Kavalierglass)

Fashion Designer of the Year
LaFormela - kolekce S/S 2015

Jewelry Designer of the Year
Janja Prokić - kolekce Hidden place

Graphic Designer of the Year
Tomáš Celizna, Adam Macháček, Radim Peško - koncepce a vizuální styl 26. Bienále grafického designu v Brně

Photographer of the Year
Adam Holý - The Overview Effect (Polansky Gallery a VICE)

Manufacturer of the Year
Kavalierglass - kolekce svítidel Laboratory Lights (DECHEM)

Retail Store of the Year
Kurator - výběr oblečení, módních doplňků, šperků a designových objektů

Discovery of the Year
Tadeáš Podracký a Markéta Kratochvílová - diplomové práce Dioscuri (Tadeáš Podracký), Enfant Terrible (Markéta Kratochvílová) a kolekce Skywalker, Pineapples, Finland Objects

Awarded by Public
Milan Pekař – Krystalické vázy

Grand Designer of the Year
DECHEM

Czech Grand Design 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 14:22:00 +0000

The Czech Grand Design awards have become an annual prestigious event, highlighting the country's best designers of the year. Selected by the Academy of Design Czech Republic, the awards this year will be announced March 14th and will cover the following categories: Designer of the Year, Fashion Designer of the Year, Jewelry Designer of the Year, Graphic Designer of the Year, Photographer of the Year, Retail Store of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year, Discovery of the Year and Hall of Fame. The public can additionally vote in the category Grand Designer of the Year. This year, the trophy for the winners is a kimono, designed by the fashion designer Monika Drápalová, the winner of last year's Grand Designer of the Year.

Below is a lost of the recently announced finalists in each category, together with a few select photos of their work. The good news for lovers of great design is that you can see all the works at the National Technical Museum in Prague till the end of March. More information about the awards can be found here.

In the category Designer of the Year
DECHEM - Material vase (Křehký), Vase study, Bandasky, Laboratory Lights (Kavalierglass)
Koncern Design Studio - Car seat for children Aton Q, Solution Q-fix (Cybex)
Milan Pekař - Crystal vases

DECHEM - Laboratory lights (Kavalierglass), photo: Michal Šeba

In the category Fashion Designer of the Year
LaFormela - collection S/S 2015
Ivana Mentlová - collection S/S 2015 Pietro Filipi Silverline
Jakub Polanka - collection S/S 2015

Ivana Mentlová - collection S/S 2015 Pietro Filipi Silverlin, photo: Pietro Filipi

In the category Jewelry Designer of the Year
Nastassia Aleinikava - Bow & Pearls, Vermeer
Janja Prokić - collection Hidden place
Zorya - conceptual collection Poklady

Nastassia Aleinikava - Bow & Pearls, Vermeer, photo: Alex Belyaev

In the category Graphic Designer of the Year
Tomáš Brousil a Radek Sidun - písmolijna Briefcase Type Foundry
Tomáš Celizna, Adam Macháček, Radim Peško - concept and visual style of the 26th International Biennial of Graphic Design in Brno
ReDesign - Prague Spring 2014

Tomáš Celizna, Adam Macháček, Radim Peško - concept and visual style of the 26th International Biennial of Graphic Design in Brno

In the category Photographer of the Year
Jan Grombiřík - portraits of Jana Kratochvílová (Bluepaper)
Adam Holý - book The Overview Effect (Polansky Gallery a VICE)
Václav Jirásek - photographs for the catalog TON 2014-15

Jan Grombiřík - portraits of Jana Kratochvílová (Bluepaper), photo: Jan Grombiřík

In the category Retail Store of the Year
Bistro & obchod No. 19 - concept of the store and bistro and the project Zástěrka
Kurator - selection of clothing, fashion accessories, jewelery and designer objects
Lavmi - visual style and concept of the store in Zlatnická 12

Lavmi - visual style and concept of the store in Zlatnická 12, photo courtesy of Lavmi

In the category Manufacturer of the Year
Kavalierglass - collection of lighting Laboratory Lights (DECHEM)
Lasvit - Lights Moulds (Jan Plecháč a Henry Wielgus), Ice (Daniel Liebeskind), Das Pop (Maarten Baas) a Frozen (Maxim Velčovský)
TON - collection of furniture Merano (Alexander Gufler)

Kavalierglass - collection of lighting Laboratory Lights (DECHEM), photo: Michal Šeba

In the category Discovery of the Year
Jan Horčík - Boyscouts of Freedom (ve spolupráci s Tomášem Bilinou), Endless Illusion, Cutulum
Tadeáš Podracký a Markéta Kratochvílová - diploma study Dioscuri (Tadeáš Podracký), Enfant Terrible (Markéta Kratochvílová) and the collection Skywalker, Pineapples, Finland Objects
Klára Vystrčilová - leather clothing with hand embroider appliques

Tadeáš Podracký a Markéta Kratochvílová Finland Object, photo courtesy of Tadeáš Podracký a Markéta Kratochvílová

Pussy Walk, the game

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 10:03:00 +0000

Those of you who follow Czech politics may be familiar with the president's radio interview in which he vulgarly criticized the Russian punk group Pussy Riot. Those of you who have no idea what I'm referring to can read up on the issue here. Inspired by this event and a number of other faux pas' the Czech president Miloš Zeman has made in the past, the agency Symbio Digital developed the online game Pussy Walk.

The aim is for the player to navigate Miloš Zeman toward the Czech crown jewels, the goal in itself serving as a reference to yet another famous PR blunder. To reach your target, you are faced with a number of obstacles, the biggest by far being the president himself. Miloš Zeman is famous for his bad smoking habit, alcohol problem and vulgar language and hence, the game replicates this behavior, making it almost impossible to navigate the drunk character through the game. In addition to this, the president's path is blocked by toy cars, chairs and oil stains, creating a literally "slippery ground" for the president to walk on. The background music of the game is a remix of Miloš Zeman's most famous speeches, including the Pussy Riot interview or the "bubble bum" blunder.

Screenshot Pussy Walk

With over 15,000 users per day, the game has become one of the most successful viral campaigns in the country and has not only proven the Czechs' unique sense of humor and ability to make fun of their political leaders but has also shown why Czechs are becoming a household name among game developers. Give it a go at www.pussywalk.com

Screenshot Pussy Walk

Contiqua

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Dec 2014 21:11:00 +0000

The one thing that I truly love about writing this blog is the constant, never-ending process of discovery of young talented designers. In fact, I come across so much talent that I don't even have the time to cover them all on my blog. And to think that I'm just focusing on ONE country...

Today was another one of those revelations. I came across a company called Contiqua, founded by the 25 year old Jindřich Fialka. The concept of the company is quite simple: "We use design to deal with waste." I know what you may be thinking right now, another one of those companies that manufactures women's purses from used tires...But Contiqua is anything but that. Yes, they reuse old materials but they use materials that are difficult to recycle like traffic signs, leather scraps and pianos and the way they use them is not like anything that I have seen before.

Their final products are breath-taking: top quality and top design. What makes the company even more interesting, is the fact that they work directly with the companies that the scrap materials come from (3M, Petrof, etc.), as these companies understand their own products best. THAT is a unique concept.

Photos courtesy of Contiqua

Marshal Apparel

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 20:33:00 +0000

Have you heard of Marshal Apparel yet? Launched only a few days back, this young fashion brand comes straight out of the streets of Prague. Its signature look? Monochromatic minimalism. Beautiful combinations of black and white contemporary minimalistic design and attention to production and materials. That's what makes Marshal Apparel unique. And we love the look!

The brand was founded by Jiří Marshal (graphic designer and film director) and the famous albino model Shaun Ross is the face of the new collection. Below is a teaser of what you can expect. Check out the Marshal Apparel online store or showroom for more.

Images courtesy of Marshal Apparel

Designblok 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 26 Sep 2014 09:49:00 +0000

Are you ready for this year's Designblok (Prague Design and Fashion Week)? Starting October 7th and running till 12th. More info here. We'll be watching closely, so follow us...

Čezeta

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 09:49:00 +0000

Have you heard the great news? The legendary scooter from Prague - Čezeta is planning a comeback! The original 501 model, also known as 'the pig' (due to its shape) first appeared in Czechoslovakia in 1956 and was designed by J. F. Koch. Today a new company, registered as Čezeta motors s.r.o. is testing and developing the production of a 506 model - five electric scooter prototypes inspired by the 50s design. There is a website entirely in English dedicated to Čezeta, where you can read more about the history of the scooter, as well as browse through the original models for sale... Wouldn't this be a great souvenir from Prague?

Below are a few pictures and videos that will take you down memory lane...careful, you will fall in love!

The new 506 model will look like this:

Photos courtesy of Čezeta

Building of the year 2014

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 21:48:00 +0000

As always, we're following the Czech 'Building of the Year' competition closely and this time, we're very thrilled to find some exciting nominees among the top 15 buildings. Our votes are in and below are our top 3 personal favorites. Have you cast your vote yet?

1/ The Science and Technology Center in Ostrava

2/ The Krkonoše Mountains Center for Environmental Education in Vrchlabí

3/ The New Pavilion of the Kindergarten at Kostelní 37, Prague 7

All photos courtesy of Stavba roku 2014

Top Young Czech Talents in Fashion Design

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 10:46:00 +0000

Are you a fashionista looking to spend more money than you can afford, just for the love of textile? We've compiled a list of the top young Czech fashion designers that stand out of the crowd and provide a nice relief from the hordes of mullets and bleached blondes out there.*

Enjoy!

Petra Ptáčková

)

Jakub Polanka

)

Jana Mikešová

)

Hana Frišonsová

HANA FRIŠONSOVÁ // BLOOMING SS13 from Hana Suus on Vimeo.

Some of these (and more!) you will find at the Molo 7 online store here.

* No offense intended. ;)

Top 6 Vegetarian Restaurants in Prague

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 15:34:00 +0000

What if I told you that you could find great vegetarian food in Prague...would you believe me? You should. And here is a list of the top 6 restaurants serving the best greens out there. Whether you're vegetarian or you've had your fair share of goulash and are looking for a change, you should drop in - these restaurants serve not only great food but will also dazzle you with their unique interiors.

And if you're not vegetarian, you're gonna wish you were. Promise! :)

Maitrea
Týnská ulička 6/1064
Prague 1
www.restaurace-maitrea.cz

Photo courtesy of Maitrea

Lehká hlava
Boršov 2/280
Prague 1
www.lehkahlava.cz

Photo courtesy of Lehká hlava

Radost FX
Bělehradská 120
Prague 2
www.radostfx.cz

Photo courtesy of Radost FX

Secret of Raw
Seifertova 13
Prague 3
www.secretofraw.cz

Photo courtesy of Secret of Raw

Plevel Restaurant
Krymská 126/2 101 00
Prague 10
www.restauraceplevel.cz

Photo courtesy of Plevel Restaurant

Bílý jeřáb
Štefánikova 51
Prague 5
www.bily-jerab.cz

Photo courtesy of Bílý jeřáb

Coffee / tea collection, Good Design 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 12:51:00 +0000

For all you lovers of great design and good coffee, here comes a product that should sit proudly on your kitchen worktop. Designed by Martin Žampach and Matěj Chabera, this tea / coffee maker set has recently won the prestigious Good Design 2013 award. The set is manufactured by Kavalierglass A.S. in Prague for the brand SIMAX and is available for purchase at the Kavalierglass store in Smíchov.

Good Design is the world’s oldest Design Awards program, founded in Chicago in the 1950s, and is organized annually by The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design in cooperation with the European Centre for Architecture, Art, Design and Urban Studies.

Photo: Petr Karšulín, foodstyling: Iva Jakešová

Bubble offices, Prague

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 16:25:00 +0000

Office Snapshots, a website that displays and discusses the latest trends in office design has once again come out with its annual list of the Top 25 Most Popular Offices of 2013. This year we were pleased to find out that the office of the Czech social media agency Bubble made it to the list and ranked 24th. From the photos of Bubble offices, we can clearly tell it is a well deserved place...

What does your office space look like?

Images courtesy of Bubble and Office Snapshots.

Mad men do Prague

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 23 Jan 2014 05:55:00 +0000

We thought we would do something a little more 'fun' this time and decided to group a few designer objects and places we love around a single theme. And since everyone seems to be obsessed with Mad Men...

The top 5 Mad Men inspired things to do when in Prague:

1/ GET A HAT

You can't be Don Draper without a good hat and there isn't a better company in the Czech Republic that knows how to cover your head in style than Tonak.

2/ SUIT UP

A slim-fit suit is a must and for a true gentleman a custom suit is the only option. Made to measure suits are now available with Blažek or Le Premier.

3/ WALK IN STYLE

Let's kick it up a notch with some tailor-made shoes. You heard me. Salon Lawart has been making them for the Czech elite since 1995.

4/ CHECK THE TIME

There is nothing classier a man can wear than a stylish watch. Prim is a brand with tradition, the sort of company that was around when your grandfather got his first watch.

5/ PERHAPS A DRINK AND A CIGAR / ETTE ?

The perfect place to do it is at Bar and Books in Prague.

Images courtesy of Tonak, Blažek, Salon Lawart, Prim and Bar and Books.

Apartment restaurants, Prague & Hospozín

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 11:52:00 +0000

We like to keep you updated on the latest trends in dining, so that you're always in the know when it comes to good food. Let's just say we like you to be the cool kid on the block. This time we have discovered a trend that will not only please your palate but will also take care of your social life. We're talking about apartment dining.

Some of you may have come across this trend in other countries, others may be hearing about this for the first time. The principle is quite simple. Food enthusiasts organize dinners in their own homes and offer a seat at the table to anyone interested to join. Hence, the name apartment restaurant. We already found two in the Czech Republic that are active and becoming increasingly popular.

This form of dining is not only the perfect way to enjoy some great food but also a great opportunity to meet new people. So how can you attend a house dinner and how much will it cost? Follow the Facebook page of any of the two below mentioned restaurants and look out for the dates and menu of their upcoming dinners. The price for the dinner will be mentioned on the menu. If you find something you like, sign up fast because there are limited seats available and they do get booked quickly! Happy dining! Oh and do drop us a note if you attend, we would love to hear how the food was and

Balcony restaurant Nová Harfa

Image courtesy of Balcony restaurant Nová Harfa

Apartment restaurant Na faře

Image courtesy of Apartment restaurant Na faře

Blábot

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Nov 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Recently I came across an amazing website that I just have to share with you. It's called Blábot (which can be loosely translated into English as babble) and its mission is quite simple - generating a Czech language equivalent of the infamous Lorem ipsum text. Blábot was created keeping Czech designers in mind. If you're designing a website or a print template without specific content, you know how useful it is to have the Lorem ipsum filler text at hand. But as a Czech designer you may actually be missing the diacritical marks of the Czech language, both visually, as well as for practical reasons.

This is where Blábot comes into the picture. The website will generate a random text, which is comprised of Czech words with all their complexities (including diacritical marks). While Lorem ipsum was created from a jumble of words from Cicero's "De finibus bonorum et malorum" (On the Ends of Goods and Evils), Blábot compiled its original text from Karel Čapek's "Povídky z jedné a druhé kapsy" (Tales from Two Pockets). The website lets you copy the text directly but also allows you to generate a personalized text. You can select the form of Czech language to be used (Čapek's Czech, modern Czech or legal Czech), as well as other parameters such as the number of paragraphs and whether to include numbered lists.

I chose to test Čapek's Czech and below is the result:

Túře mstivě zamkl pohnutím pořád přibližně ne kartářka tmě za se ráz muži! Mou nim eh slovům jízdu alev? Náš trpké té čtou a posílil ó padnout. Zub komtesou jenž 11 zkusit 30 vinna východu výklad. Au uf vše čí mrak dostala ponechán. Ó laciným jen ošetřovatelka kroutě 77 bavil ať o ministerstvo povstala jaterní si bok můj řeč kruh šlo čí nač její světlá.

Oko vy pravým hůrky i klec ba smrtelné. Šéf stole vůči jezdila. Master pozdrav doslova. Spí rád honí po povede obviněný dojat vy svědkyně čtenářů mé rado. Lovu, ní mařkou, jo vzácnou utřela, jest záhy první začnu pekaři ba dvaceti protestoval – močí žitné! Ční au četli jeho mně stopu řičí. Hry prožít ano jaký, v díků těla mě náš nejisté ó jsi zabil zářila.

If you speak Czech, you may actually find the text somewhat poetic. But even if you don't understand a word of Czech, you may find it amusing to use this strange mix of words instead of the traditional Lorem ipsum.

Whoop De Doo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 12:14:00 +0000

On a slightly different note this time, yet just as playful and quality design focused, today's post will introduce you to the company Whoop De Doo. If you haven't heard of them already, you are in for a surprise. Whoop De Doo was founded by the young Czech designer Anna Marešová and its product portfolio is quite straightforward: she sex toys. Yes, you heard us. Anna Marešová designed a collection of sleek and modern sex toys as part of her M.A. project at UJEP University in Ústí nad Labem. Soon her fame spread through the media, as she won the main prize at the 20th Annual National Student Design Awards back in 2011. Her motivation for designing such a collection of intimate products was to break away from the tradition of confining the products to pornography or something forbidden and instead present them as hygienic, clean and playful. If you look at the final design of the products, as well as the packaging, I think you'll agree that she succeeded in her goal.

Photo courtesy of Whoop De Doo

In about a week's time, Whoop De Doo will be launching the sale of its products online. You can now go to the website and register to receive up-to-date news about the launch and future product introductions.

The toys of Libuše Niklová

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 01 Nov 2013 13:29:00 +0000

I have been meaning to write about the iconic Czech designer Libuše Niklová for some time now. Her inflatable and plastic toys of the post-war era (particularly the 60s) have influenced generations of children and adults. Yet while almost every Czech will remember her typical designs, few will associate them with her personally. At this year's Designblok her name came up once again, as the company Fatra introduced the re-edition of Niklová's toys, as well as new designs by young Czech designers. All these toys are now available for purchase on Fatra's online store. Here is a tasting of some of the exquisite designs now available.

Designed by Libuše Niklová:

Photos courtesy of Ivo Hercik

Contemporary designs by Jan Čapek, Anna Kozová and Jerry Koza:

Photos courtesy of Michal Šeba

Also available for purchase is a book about Libuše Niklová's life and her designs, published in Czech and English bilingual form.

Designblok 13, Prague

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 11:55:00 +0000

Don't forget to attend Designblok this week! Running from October 7th - 13th, Designblok is more than just the Czech equivalent of the various fashion weeks established in major fashion capitals around the globe. It is also an international exhibition of contemporary furniture design, industrial design, lighting, product and jewelry design. Designblok has been running since 1999 and with its rather long tradition, it has managed to attract some of the most renowned local and international designers this year.

This year Designblok is held in three major locations in Prague. The interior, lighting and product design exhibition, which forms the major part of Designblok is held at Nákladové nádraží Žižkov in Prague 3. Fashion and jewelry design can be found in the Kafka house in Staroměstské náměstí, Prague 1. An exhibition exploring the fine line between design and art and showcasing the works of major international designers is being held in the Colloredo-Mansfeld palace in Karlova street, Prague 1.

A ticket will cost you 250 Czk and will get you into all three of the locations of the Designblok during the entire week. Tickets can be purchased at any of the three listed locations. If you're interested in attending the fashion shows, make sure to review the program here and book your tickets for the particular shows you're interested in early.

Images courtesy of Designblok

Signal Festival, Prague

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 27 Sep 2013 10:30:00 +0000

Ever heard of video mapping? Also called projection mapping, video mapping is the art of using projection technology to turn objects, such as buildings into a display surface for video projection. In other words, with this technique almost any surface can be used to become a dynamic video display of 2D and 3D images, creating various illusions for the audience. Why the interest in video mapping? Coming up in October, Prague will witness its first Signal light festival, which will display some of the greatest works in the field of video mapping from around the world. Additionally, light installations and sculptures will also be a part of the program.

The event is set to take place from 17th to 20th October and installations will be scattered across the center of Prague. Entry is free and for easy access to individual installations, the organizers have already listed the participating artists (local & international), the details of their work and the location of each installation on their website. So rather than wandering through Prague aimlessly on the night of the festival, you may want to start browsing through the program now, to select the installations that interest you the most. We've certainly picked out some of our favorites!

This flashy installation (literally) is an interactive sculpture made from 6,000 light bulbs, created by the Canadian artists Caitlind r.c. Brown and Wayne Garrett. Take a look at the video to get a taste of what to expect, it will certainly be exciting to see the sort of public interaction this sculpture creates.

CLOUD: An Interactive Sculpture Made from 6,000 Light Bulbs from Caitlind r.c. Brown on Vimeo.

We're also looking forward to exploring the works of some great local artists, such as the famous Czech designer Rony Plesl, who will be exhibiting a suspended light sculpture made of 35 green uranium glass tubes.

Photo courtesy of Rony Plesl and Signal Festival.

And finally, here are some examples of video mapping as part of a teaser for the Signal Festival:

Public Transport Museum, Prague

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 10:29:00 +0000

We love chairs and we also love competitions. Imagine a combination of the two...Well, the Museum of Public Transport in Prague is currently holding a competition, in the form of a survey that allows the public to vote for the most comfortable public transport seat. There are altogether 8 prototypes to choose from, including ones that you may recognize from your local bus or tram. The Prague Public Transit Company has also introduced 4 new designs. The competition will run till November 17th and you can take part by either visiting the museum personally or voting online. By taking part, you will automatically be included in a prize draw and can win books and other small items. Unfortunately, the online voting form is only available in Czech, so it may be better for you to visit the museum yourself. And let's be frank here, how do you expect to vote for the most comfortable seat, without actually trying it?

Photo courtesy of The Prague Public Transit Company

Krust helmets, Prague

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 06:20:00 +0000

It's about time we wrote about product design! It may seem that while we were getting carried away with gourmet restaurants and designer shops, we lost sight of all the great young Czech product designers that are slowly making their way into the spotlight...Wrong! We have kept our eyes peeled for these young talents and are happy to introduce them to you. Today, we'll have a look at a young company Krust, which specializes in designer helmets.

Krust was founded by the passionate cyclists Alexander Klimeš and Jaroslav Endršt, who being bored of the design of the classical bicycle helmet, decided to take things into their own hands. They joined forces with the young design studio deFORM and came up with their first collection of funky helmets. What we love about their product is that not only does it bring style to biking, rollerblading, skateboarding but it also meets all safety norms and is certified. As the company revealed, we should keep an eye out for a collection of snowboard and ski helmets in the future! Below is just a teasing sample of Krust's product range, to view more visit their website.

Images courtesy of Krust.

The Real Meat Society, Prague

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 09:15:00 +0000

This post may seem a little out of place compared to the usual things we blog about but let me assure you that it rightly deserves to be in the spotlight. Remember our post about the Sansho restaurant in Prague? Well, its chef Paul Day has caught our attention once again, this time with his meat shop The Real Meat Society.

Unique not only in its concept but also its product offering, The Real Meat Society will please even the most demanding carnivore. This meat shop prides itself on selling meat that is antibiotic and hormone free and comes from small local farms. The shop also sells less famous breeds and abides by a nose to tail philosophy (all animal parts can be effectively consumed, including parts rarely used). Though the price of the meat is on the higher side, Paul Day's experience as a butcher and a famous chef should serve as an assurance of quality.

Though right now their website is only in Czech, it is worth a visit to get a sense of the entire unique concept of the store. Who would have thought there is an art in selling meat? For those of you who understand Czech, you may enjoy browsing through some of the recipes The Real Meat Society regularly posts online.

The Real Meat Society
Náplavní 5, Prague 2
http://www.trms.cz/
Opening hours:
Tue - Wed 11-18
Thur - Fri 11-19
Sat 9-13

Design shops, Prague

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 27 Jun 2013 09:50:00 +0000

If you are a fan of great design, you might be wondering where to buy original items by Czech designers. After all, a souvenir from the Czech Republic doesn't always have to be a "Prague - Czech me out" t-shirt or a beer glass. Why not bring home something truly original?

Perhaps unlike in some cities around the world, where the design community is concentrated in a certain neighborhood or around a certain street, in Prague designers are scattered around the city and may be more difficult to find. Nevertheless, a lot of them are located in the city center and hence, are easily accessible to tourists as well. That is if they know where to find them...

Below is a list of some of the most famous design stores in Prague, which are also my personal favorites. This time, I have mainly listed stores with jewelry, home decor, glassware, books and other smaller items. Some of them may include fashion as well, though I have not specifically focused on these, as that would require a separate post altogether. We can keep those for next time...

Artěl
Celetná 29, Prague 1
www.artelglass.com
Opening hours:
Daily 10-19

or

U Lužického semináře 7, Prague 1
www.artelglass.com
Opening hours:
Daily 10-19

Artěl as a company was founded in 1998 by an American design enthusiast Karen Feldman, who moved to Prague in 1994. The Artěl design store opened in 2007. The store showcases Artěl glassware, together with hand selected vintage and contemporary jewelry, toys and other design items. Artěl glassware blends modern design with traditional Czech craftsmanship. Hence, Artěl products will please even the most demanding collectors of beautiful glass.

Photo courtesy of Artěl

De-sign.cz
Sládkova 7, Prague 7
www.de-sign.cz
Opening hours:
Mon - Tue 11-18
Thur - Fri 11-18

De-sign.cz is the store of Iva S. Tattermuschová, whose studio focuses on graphic design, as well as glass and porcelain objects. The store also has an eshop, which sells the works of many Czech designers, in addition to De-sign.cz's very own products. The store also received the Czech Grand Design Awards nomination in 2012.

Photo courtesy of De-sign.cz

Futurista Universum
Betlémské nám. 5a, Prague 1
www.futurista.cz
Opening hours:
Mon - Fri - 11-18.30
Sat 10-18.30

Futurista Universum opened in 2009 in the very heart of Prague. This particular store is unique in that it offers products by Czech designers specially made for the Futurista Universum brand. Hence, the store caters to a wide customer base, varying from young design enthusiasts to true collectors.

Photo courtesy of Futurista Universum

Harddecore Gallery
Senovážné náměstí 10, Prague 1
www.harddecore.cz
Opening hours:
Mon - Fri 11-19
Sat 11-17

Harddecore is a small design and fashion gallery that specializes in contemporary design by upcoming Czech designers. Among them for example the famous Llev design studio, which are renowned for their glass work. In addition to the shop, Harddecore have their design studio in the premises above the store, where you are also welcome to have visit. Additionally, they now also run an online shop.

Photo courtesy of Harddecore

Kubista
Dům U Černé Matky Boží
Ovocný trh 19, Prague 1
www.kubista.cz
Opening hours:
Tue - Sun 10-18.30

The Kubista store opened in 2002 on the ground floor of the Czech Cubism Museum. Hence, the store started as a museum shop, specializing in replicas and restored objects from the Cubism era. Over the years it expanded its variety to include Art Deco, as well as upcoming young Czech designers. The store now also runs an eshop, where you can get a better sense of the unique design items that are available for purchase.

Photo courtesy of Kubista

Kuráž
Benediktská 7, Prague 1
www.kuraz.cz
Opening hours:
Mon - Fri 11-19
Sat 11-16

Looking for quirky and funky jewelry, handbags, fashion or home decor items? Kuráž is the store for you. This shop focuses on unique items created by young Czech and Slovak designers and brands. You can also check out their eshop!

Photo courtesy of Kuráž

Modernista
Celetná 12, Prague 1
www.modernista.info
Opening hours:
Daily 11-19

or

Obecní dům
nám. Republiky 5, Prague 1
Opening hours:
Daily 10-18

Modernista is famous among design enthusiasts in Prague. The store dates back to 1999 when it started as an online shop. Two years later the store opened. Modernista focuses on Czech cubism and Czech 20th century design. Among the items on display, you will find restored original pieces, as well as replicas of famous design objects. Modernista became particularly famous for its furniture pieces from the 1930s.

Photo courtesy of Modernista

Pop-Up Store
Centrum Chodov
Roztylská 2321/19, Prague 4
Opening hours:
Daily 9-21

A very recent addition to our list of design shops in Prague is the new Pop-Up Store in Chodov. The uniqueness of this particular pop-up store is that it is the first to open in a shopping center. The shop showcases the works of nine young Czech designers, including Zuzana Serbák, Markéta Richterová and others. As with all pop-up stores, even this one has its limited life span, the store will be be running till July 14th.

Photo courtesy of Pop-Up Store

Qubus Design Studio
Rámová 3, Prague 1
www.qubus.cz

or

Dox by Qubus
Poupětova 1, Prague 7
www.dox.cz

The Qubus Design Studio was founded in 2002 by Jakub Berdych and Maxim Velčovský, renowned names in Czech design. This non-standard design shop presents above all contemporary Czech design and conceptual design. With the opening of the gallery and center for contemporary art - Dox in 2008, Qubus opened their second shop within the premises of this gallery.

Photo courtesy of Qubus

Observatory and Planetarium, Brno

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 05:44:00 +0000

When was the last time you took your kids to a planetarium? In fact, when was the last time YOU went to one? Probably in your primary school days...With the new Star Trek movie running in cinemas and the increasing popularity of The Bing Bang Theory sitcom, perhaps now is the right time to brush up on your astronomy knowledge. And what better place to hide from the uncertain European summer weather than under the roof of a planetarium!

The Brno observatory is certainly proof that planetariums can be cool. This particular observatory was extensively renovated in 2010 and boasts of beautiful modern interiors and captivating video projection shows. Below a few images to serve as teasers, for more don't hesitate to head down to Brno to see it for yourself.

Photos courtesy of the Observatory and Planetarium, Brno