New G(o)ods
The Design Cabinet CZ is pleased to announce the first annual Czech National Award for Student Design. The Czech National Award for Student Design 2008 continues the tradition of design competitions previously organized by the state-supported Design Centre of the Czech Republic (established in 1991). Traditionally, one of the design contests was dedicated to student designers. As the amount of participating students rise each year, and with the growing number of high schools and universities training their students in design, a Student Design, separate student competition, was established in 2004. Student Design consisted of three awards: Czech National Award for Student Design, Excellent Student Design and Outstanding Student Design. Now public can vote for their favorite (unfortunately it is just in Czech Language but with a lot of pictures 
) The exhibition will be open from 23. 10. till 14. 11. 2008 in the place of Architecture and Building Fundation, Václavské nám. 31, Praha 1, where the Design Cabinet has office.
Unfortunately, the Czech Government and the Ministry of Trade and Industry of the Czech Republic decided to terminate the work of the Design Centre of the Czech Republic in 2007. The result of that decision has been that all design competitions, along with other professional activities supporting Czech design, have ceased to exist. Now, the former Prague team of the Design Centre of the Czech Republic has announced the foundation of Design Cabinet CZ. One of their main goals is to preserve a student competition that is unique in Europe and perhaps throughout the entire world. The Czech National Award for Student Design 2008 is currently held under the auspices of the Architecture & Building Foundation, which despite their trying financial situation, have agreed to support the award. Other organizations contributing to the efforts of Design Cabinet CZ are the Union of Creative Artists of the Czech Republic, the Union of Professional Designers of the Czech Republic, the Association of High Schools and Professional Schools with Creative and Handicraft Subjects and the CZECHDESIGN.CZ Association.
The response to the first annual Czech National Award for Student Design in 2008 was outstanding – there were total of 125 works submitted by 119 students from 16 universities, 16 high schools and professional schools. Students could enter the contest with prototypes, models, and posters as well as portfolios. The jury, which consisted of 16 well-respected Czech designers including teachers, art curators, chief designers and art directors have awarded 21 works. One work was selected for the Czech National Award for Student Design 2008, 8 works received Excellent Student Design awards and 12 works were appraised with the Outstanding Student Design awards. Due to high quality of submitted work, the Design Cabinet CZ, the Union of Creative Artists of the Czech Republic, the Union of Professional Designers of the Czech Republic, CZECHDESIGN.CZ as well as the director of the National Technical Museum decided to grant additional awards.
The Czech National Award for Student Design 2008 as well as the accompanying exhibition New G(o)ods was made possible thanks to financial contribution of the following companies: Autodesk, Donlič Interier, Eta, Dvořák – Slope Mowers, mcité, and Tescoma. Additional support was provided by the Almex, Croy, the Czech Centres, IKEA ČR, Student Agency, Polytrade CE, Red Bull, and the Architecture & Building Foundation.
Making of the Czech National Award for Student Design 2008 catalogue was sponsored by Kolektiv, a graphic studio from Ostrava. Exhibition display design was created by Roman Vrtiška and Vladimír Žák, both students of University of Applied Arts in Prague, the logo was designed by Milan Sodoma, student of the Graphic Professional Hight School in Prague, and the symbol/object of the competition was created by Jiři Janíček. Approximately twenty additional volunteers were active in supporting the Czech National Award for Student Design 2008.
Contact:
Lenka Žižková, Ph.D.
+ 420 602 350 805,
zizkova@designcabinet.cz
Design Cabinet CZ
