CGD

The multi-genre project Identity is the brainchild of Filip Blažek and Linda Kudrnovská. It focuses on the story of Czech graphic design, including a voluminous publication, an exhibition and a seven-part television documentary (made in collaboration with other creators). The visual form of all these projects is meticulously developed and perfectly dovetails with the content.

Identity is a unique book by editor Lucie Kudrnovská, which was produced over the course of seven years. It is a 500-page collective monograph mapping the history of the entire field as well as the contemporary trends, offering extensive image materials, documentation, original designs, interviews with notable persons of Czech graphic design, as well as essays and articles by theorists and experts. It focuses on the Czech graphic and typesetting tradition, its position in the digital era, the transformations of the poster medium and visual identities, as well as drawing attention to important projects in the field, all the while keeping in view the diversity of both historical publications and contemporary book design. It presents the field in the cultural context and asks important questions: What is the function of graphic design? How does it influence us? How are Czech graphic works specific? The book thus provides an important document for exploring Czech graphic design in all its complexity. It is furthermore available both in Czech and English versions, thus helping spread awareness of Czech design abroad. Its graphic design was produced by Adéla Svobodová in collaboration with Filip Blažek, published as a collaborative project between Typo and Mowshe.

On three floors of the Museum Kampa, curators Filip Blažek and Linda Kudrnovská familiarize the public with the most eminent works and historical moments of graphic design – from the development of state symbols, through hundreds of exhibition items including iconic books, magazines and posters from the fin de siècle period until today, as well as navigation systems informing public space, logos, music media, wrapper design and others. The exhibition also includes accompanying texts explaining the exhibited artefacts’ wider context. The museum also engages the public with thematic exhibitions and workshops dealing with the topics of graphic design in all its breadth, and offers the opportunity to personally meet the leading persons of Czech graphic design. David Korecký is the exhibition’s commissioner; Jan Kloss, Matěj Činčera and Adam Blažek were the exhibition architects; its graphic identity was developed by Studio Marvil.

Kristina Fišerová