„I don’t know what changes we will face, but definitely it is the moment to revaluate and redefine our approach to our being "
Together with Qreator by IQOS, we were going to launch a new events category during this year's edition of Romanian Design Week. It is called DESIGN FLAGS, a series of seven exhibitions that document the evolution of design from international cultural perspectives, which would have been hosted by Qreator by IQOS space.
Because, at the moment, the safest thing for all of us is to #stayhome, but also because we thought of sharing with you the content of these exhibitions, we decided to exhibit these international projects online, here, but also to start a series of interviews with the teams behind them. Thus, we have the opportunity to discover together the ideas and insights that made possible each of these.
Presented with the help of the Spanish Embassy in Bucharest, the Hungarian Institute in Bucharest, the Czech Centre, Designmuseum Danmark, CHART, Next Nature and KWY.studio, the seven exhibitions investigate new approaches and concerns in design and present innovative ideas and products that manage to redefine the sphere of which they are part.
OKOLO Founders: Adam Štěch, Matěj Činčera, Jan Kloss
In this interview, we spoke with Adam Štěch, founder of OKOLO, who, at the invitation of the Czech Center, was supposed to hold a conference within the DESIGN FLAGS program.
Born in Děčín in 1986, Adam has worked in the design, architecture, clothing design and graphic arts field as a theorist, journalist and curator. He is the editor of a Prague design magazine, Dolce Vita, and contributor to international publications such as Wallpaper, Cool Hunting, Damn, A10, Mark and Frame. He currently teaches at Scholastika in Prague.
- How did you start OKOLO and how would you describe it in a sentence?
OKOLO is a versatile creative agency/studio focusing on curating, publishing and collaborating in design, architecture and art. We started in 2009 as a group of friends with passion to do projects about the things and stories we love and admire.
- What is the project you are most proud of? Of all times? And what kind(s) of projects/services did you develop/are you providing now?
There are more such projects, but I particular like one of our earlier project dedicated to Carlo Mollino. OKOLO Mollino was a book about this legendary Italian designer. We created a homage to him with the laser cut pages of the book from which his creations and stories are possible to cut out and assemble a model.
- How are you adapting to the current situation and what would you recommend a designer these days? (in terms of activities/resources/ideas/articles/books anything)
We do not work from our studios, but from home. I do almost the same things as normally. Write some articles and prepare some upcoming exhibition projects. I also teach, and all my lectures are now video lectures. It is good that we were able to switch to such formats to continue teaching. And there is always a lot to read and explore, it is just about the passion and interests of people who want to, not just in time of crisis.
- How do you expect this crisis to impact the design world and how do you think (or hope) it will change it on the long run?
I am not sure how it will change, but I see many initiatives online, which is quite good. There are many talks, discussions and so on, mainly on Instagram Live platform which I already participate to.
- The theme of Romanian Design Week 2020 is CHANGE. What do you think/hope CHANGE will mean for us after all this is going to be over?
I don’t know what changes we will face, but definitely it is the moment to revaluate and redefine our approach to our being.
- What is OKOLO preparing nowadays/future plans/the end of the Corona crisis? Where should we follow you?
Follow us on Instagram @okoloweb, where I publish my continuous 20th century architecture and design research. We also finished our highly anticipated book for Prestel, which features almost 900 20th century buildings I have personally visited and documented all around five continents. I was working on this book for a long time and now it finally goes to print. My colleagues from OKOLO did the graphic design of the book. We also work on huge retrospective exhibition of designer Jiří Pelcl.
Where you can find him:
https://www.instagram.com/okoloweb/
Design Flags is supported by Qreator by IQOS.
Qreator by IQOS - Home of Creativity is one of the most active promoters and facilitators of creativity in the cultural area of Bucharest. Through the events it organizes or hosts, Qreator by IQOS connects the creative communities of Bucharest with all those passionate about creativity, in all its forms. Qreator by IQOS provides a space where they can express themselves and collaborate, but also the technological resources needed to put their ideas and projects into practice. More information on http://www.qreator.ro and http://www.facebook.com/qreator.
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Find out more about Made in CZ / Found in Ro, an exhibition presented by the Czech Centre.
We also recommend you this interview with Robin Ujfaluši, Director of the Czech Centre, about the Made in CZ / Found in RO exhibition, as well as about adapting the local cultural scene to change.