Designblok Prague 2024: Youth
This year’s Designblok is where the past and future collide in the most elegant way possible—an event that pays homage to timeless craftsmanship passed down through generations while giving a playful nod to the youth daring to reinvent and disrupt old traditions.
A Fusion of Tradition and Tomorrow
I'd like to share with you a selection of five favorite female-led stands and products from this year.
Forbidden Thorns by Lucie Rosická
Lucie Rosická, a talented textile artist from Olomouc, Czech Republic, presents her work Forbidden Thorns as part of the exhibition Our Garden / Naše zahrada at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague. Curated by the skilled Eva Slunéčková, the piece explores themes of growth, complexity, and care—both personal and societal. Using the metaphor of a garden, the artwork symbolizes the balance between beauty and pain, wildness and nurture, while reflecting on public space and national identity.
Other works by Lucie, including A Private Selfie for My Husband and Socials, are on display at Artisème’s new Gift Library at Rybná 26.
Linda Procházka’s Iconic Glass Bags
Step into the world of Cinderella, where life is full of bows and crystal shoes—only this time, designer Linda Procházka presents iconic glass bags.
These striking creations blend fragility with strength, demonstrating Linda’s deep appreciation for craftsmanship while challenging traditional design boundaries. After all, a perfect glass bag fits everyone better than a glass slipper! Linda’s work earned her the Public Award, along with praise for her whimsical, fairytale-like stand, complete with a giant pink bow.
The *Unreality* Collection by Katerina Handlová with RÜCKL
Katerina Handlová and RÜCKL invite us into a world where the boundaries of time dissolve with their *Unreality* collection.
Each vase captures a fleeting moment, leaving an echo in space and merging past with present. Inspired by the raw beauty of stones and gems, the hand-cut facets and textures reflect more than just light—they preserve whispers of memories, touches, and emotions lingering from another time. This collection offers a striking fusion of natural elegance and timeless craftsmanship.
A Sensory Collaboration: Scent Roche and Dick Wolf
Scent Roche and Dick Wolf have created a harmonious blend of scent and handcrafted jewelry, working together from a quaint studio near Prague Castle.
Scent Roche’s perfumes capture memories in a bottle, like the trace of an ocean breeze, while Dick Wolf’s jewelry evokes moments from the past—such as a silver tie reminiscent of a mother braiding her daughter’s hair. Together, their work weaves memory, artistry, and craftsmanship into a one-of-a-kind sensory experience.
Karolina Kucerová’s Empathy Vessels
Karolina Kucerová’s *Empathy Vessels* demonstrate her extraordinary ability to transform rigid materials into objects that appear as soft and delicate as marshmallows.
These vessels reflect her intimate relationship with clay, emphasizing the material’s plasticity. For Karolina, "empathy" is not only about human connection—it also represents the dialogue between the maker and the material.
By highlighting softness in seemingly rigid forms, she expresses vulnerability, sincerity, and a gentle approach to both her craft and the world around her, blending emotional depth with technical mastery.
