p r a g u e . b l a g u e

TypoDesignClub

This site was sent to me by Peter Bilak: TypoDesignClub. There's a list of designers/members with links to studios you will want to look through. As I find those those of particular interest to our study, I'll post them in the comments below. Please add your comments as you discover work you appreciate, or are curious about.

Czech Design Sites

Czech Design announces and archives all types of design projects and events.

Here's a list of designers/members with links to studios to review from TypoDesignClub.

More to come, but if you find some yourself, please DO post them in the comments.

New Europe New Spirit

Read the full article here, written by Rick Poyner for the 2004 ATypeI Conference in Prague.

IN CENTRAL EUROPE, DESIGN IS AT CROSSROADS. IT IS 15 YEARS SINCE THE COLLAPSE OF COMMUNISM AND THE ARRIVAL OF DEMOCRACY AND THE FREE MARKET. A GREAT DEAL HAS HAPPENED IN THE DESIGN COMMUNITIES OF COUNTRIES SUCH AS THE CZECH REPUBLIC, CROATIA, SLOVENIA, POLAND AND HUNGARY. Design is at different stages of development, reflecting national economic conditions and the relationship of designers with their own local traditions of design, but certain factors are shared. It is these opportunities and dilemmas that I want to explore. There is a chance not to simply produce a local imitation of Western design, but to develop goals and ways of working, which would have their basis in the visual histories and cultural concerns of the region. Without clear thinking and careful planning, it is possible that things will go wrong and that design in this part of the world could find itself overtaken and corrupted by the worst aspects of design and advertising — the two are becoming inseparable — in the West.

Contemporary Czech and Slovak Designers

This exhibition, e-a-t (experiment and typography) of Czech and Slovak design and typogragraphy opened originally in Brno (2004) and has traveled to Poland, Holland, Slovakia and Hungary. Two names you might recognize: Peter Bilak (of Typotheque and Dot Dot Dot) and Zuzana Licko (of Emigre fame). But many surprises await! Cool site too, designed by Petr Knobloch.

Your Guide to Central European Typography

Link: Cool Czechness. Eastern Europe Rocks X-heights.