Online Postcard App by the Czech Post

Ok, so what I'm about to write about is not exactly a standard topic for this blog but I found the product so great, I just had to share. Plus I haven't really come across this anywhere else...

A few days ago the Czech Post launched a new app called the Online Postcard. As you can maybe already guess from the name, the app lets users create and mail postcards from their personal photos. I downloaded the app and gave it a go. The app is in Beta testing, so there may be a few glitches here and there... I particularly noticed a few mistakes in the English translation but other than that it worked perfectly fine.

The process is quite simple. You start by selecting the size of your postcard from 3 available formats. You then select the photo you would like to use. You can select one from your phone, take a new photo or use a template. Before filling out the backside you can edit the photo (crop, rotate, filter, etc.). You then add the addressee (the app can pull contacts from your phone or you input the address manually) and your message. The app offers four default colors, letter fonts and sizes. Finally, you enter your email, accept the terms & conditions and proceed to online payment through PayU. The postcard will be printed and sent for delivery the next working day after payment. The same postcard can be sent to up to 10 addresses at the same time. You can also save your created postcards in drafts. 

The actual app is free to download, payment is for the printing and delivery of the card. The prices vary depending on the size of the card and the country of delivery. To give you an idea, a standard sized postcard delivered within the Czech Republic will cost you 25 Kč, the same card within the EU will cost 37 Kč and outside Europe 42 Kč. Very affordable if you ask me and definitely worth the money!    

Available for free on Google Play (Android) and the App Store (iOS), more information in English check the website here. The app can be downloaded here. 

Czech Grand Design 2014 Winners

The results are out! Below is a list of the winners of this year's Czech Grand Design Awards.


Designer of the Year
DECHEM - Materiálová váza (Křehký), Vase study, Bandasky, Laboratory Lights (Kavalierglass)

Fashion Designer of the Year
LaFormela - kolekce S/S 2015

Jewelry Designer of the Year
Janja Prokić - kolekce Hidden place

Graphic Designer of the Year
Tomáš Celizna, Adam Macháček, Radim Peško - koncepce a vizuální styl 26. Bienále grafického designu v Brně

Photographer of the Year
Adam Holý - The Overview Effect (Polansky Gallery a VICE)

Manufacturer of the Year
Kavalierglass - kolekce svítidel Laboratory Lights (DECHEM)

Retail Store of the Year
Kurator - výběr oblečení, módních doplňků, šperků a designových objektů

Discovery of the Year
Tadeáš Podracký a Markéta Kratochvílová - diplomové práce Dioscuri (Tadeáš Podracký), Enfant Terrible (Markéta Kratochvílová) a kolekce Skywalker, Pineapples, Finland Objects

Awarded by Public
Milan Pekař – Krystalické vázy

Grand Designer of the Year
DECHEM

Czech Grand Design 2014

The Czech Grand Design awards have become an annual prestigious event, highlighting the country's best designers of the year. Selected by the Academy of Design Czech Republic, the awards this year will be announced March 14th and will cover the following categories: Designer of the Year, Fashion Designer of the Year, Jewelry Designer of the Year, Graphic Designer of the Year, Photographer of the Year, Retail Store of the Year, Manufacturer of the Year, Discovery of the Year and Hall of Fame. The public can additionally vote in the category Grand Designer of the Year. This year, the trophy for the winners is a kimono, designed by the fashion designer Monika Drápalová, the winner of last year's Grand Designer of the Year.

Below is a lost of the recently announced finalists in each category, together with a few select photos of their work. The good news for lovers of great design is that you can see all the works at the National Technical Museum in Prague till the end of March. More information about the awards can be found here.


In the category Designer of the Year
DECHEM - Material vase (Křehký), Vase study, Bandasky, Laboratory Lights (Kavalierglass)
Koncern Design Studio - Car seat for children Aton Q, Solution Q-fix (Cybex)
Milan Pekař - Crystal vases

DECHEM - Laboratory lights (Kavalierglass), photo: Michal Šeba

In the category Fashion Designer of the Year
LaFormela - collection S/S 2015
Ivana Mentlová - collection S/S 2015 Pietro Filipi Silverline
Jakub Polanka - collection S/S 2015

 Ivana Mentlová - collection S/S 2015 Pietro Filipi Silverlin, photo: Pietro Filipi  

In the category Jewelry Designer of the Year
Nastassia Aleinikava - Bow & Pearls, Vermeer
Janja Prokić - collection Hidden place
Zorya - conceptual collection Poklady

 Nastassia Aleinikava - Bow & Pearls, Vermeer, photo: Alex Belyaev

In the category Graphic Designer of the Year
Tomáš Brousil a Radek Sidun - písmolijna Briefcase Type Foundry
Tomáš Celizna, Adam Macháček, Radim Peško - concept and visual style of the 26th International Biennial of Graphic Design in Brno
ReDesign - Prague Spring 2014

Tomáš Celizna, Adam Macháček, Radim Peško - concept and visual style of the 26th International Biennial of Graphic Design in Brno

In the category Photographer of the Year
Jan Grombiřík - portraits of Jana Kratochvílová (Bluepaper)
Adam Holý - book The Overview Effect (Polansky Gallery a VICE)
Václav Jirásek - photographs for the catalog TON 2014-15

 Jan Grombiřík - portraits of Jana Kratochvílová (Bluepaper), photo: Jan Grombiřík

In the category Retail Store of the Year
Bistro & obchod No. 19 - concept of the store and bistro and the project Zástěrka
Kurator - selection of clothing, fashion accessories, jewelery and designer objects
Lavmi - visual style and concept of the store in Zlatnická 12

 Lavmi - visual style and concept of the store in Zlatnická 12, photo courtesy of Lavmi

In the category Manufacturer of the Year 
Kavalierglass - collection of lighting Laboratory Lights (DECHEM)
Lasvit - Lights Moulds (Jan Plecháč a Henry Wielgus), Ice (Daniel Liebeskind), Das Pop (Maarten Baas) a Frozen (Maxim Velčovský)
TON - collection of furniture Merano (Alexander Gufler)

 Kavalierglass - collection of lighting Laboratory Lights (DECHEM), photo: Michal Šeba

In the category Discovery of the Year 
Jan Horčík - Boyscouts of Freedom (ve spolupráci s Tomášem Bilinou), Endless Illusion, Cutulum
Tadeáš Podracký a Markéta Kratochvílová - diploma study Dioscuri (Tadeáš Podracký), Enfant Terrible (Markéta Kratochvílová) and the collection Skywalker, Pineapples, Finland Objects
Klára Vystrčilová - leather clothing with hand embroider appliques

 Tadeáš Podracký a Markéta Kratochvílová Finland Object, photo courtesy of  Tadeáš Podracký a Markéta Kratochvílová

Pussy Walk, the game

Those of you who follow Czech politics may be familiar with the president's radio interview in which he vulgarly criticized the Russian punk group Pussy Riot. Those of you who have no idea what I'm referring to can read up on the issue here. Inspired by this event and a number of other faux pas' the Czech president Miloš Zeman has made in the past, the agency Symbio Digital developed the online game Pussy Walk.

The aim is for the player to navigate Miloš Zeman toward the Czech crown jewels, the goal in itself serving as a reference to yet another famous PR blunder. To reach your target, you are faced with a number of obstacles, the biggest by far being the president himself. Miloš Zeman is famous for his bad smoking habit, alcohol problem and vulgar language and hence, the game replicates this behavior, making it almost impossible to navigate the drunk character through the game. In addition to this, the president's path is blocked by toy cars, chairs and oil stains, creating a literally "slippery ground" for the president to walk on. The background music of the game is a remix of Miloš Zeman's most famous speeches, including the Pussy Riot interview or the "bubble bum" blunder.

Screenshot Pussy Walk

With over 15,000 users per day, the game has become one of the most successful viral campaigns in the country and has not only proven the Czechs' unique sense of humor and ability to make fun of their political leaders but has also shown why Czechs are becoming a household name among game developers. Give it a go at www.pussywalk.com 

Screenshot Pussy Walk

    

Contiqua

The one thing that I truly love about writing this blog is the constant, never-ending process of discovery of young talented designers. In fact, I come across so much talent that I don't even have the time to cover them all on my blog. And to think that I'm just focusing on ONE country...

Today was another one of those revelations. I came across a company called Contiqua, founded by the 25 year old Jindřich Fialka. The concept of the company is quite simple: "We use design to deal with waste." I know what you may be thinking right now, another one of those companies that manufactures women's purses from used tires...But Contiqua is anything but that. Yes, they reuse old materials but they use materials that are difficult to recycle like traffic signs, leather scraps and pianos and the way they use them is not like anything that I have seen before.

Their final products are breath-taking: top quality and top design. What makes the company even more interesting, is the fact that they work directly with the companies that the scrap materials come from (3M, Petrof, etc.), as these companies understand their own products best. THAT is a unique concept.

    

Photos courtesy of Contiqua

Marshal Apparel

Have you heard of Marshal Apparel yet? Launched only a few days back, this young fashion brand comes straight out of the streets of Prague. Its signature look? Monochromatic minimalism. Beautiful combinations of black and white contemporary minimalistic design and attention to production and materials. That's what makes Marshal Apparel unique. And we love the look!

The brand was founded by Jiří Marshal (graphic designer and film director) and the famous albino model Shaun Ross is the face of the new collection. Below is a teaser of what you can expect. Check out the Marshal Apparel online store or showroom for more.

     Images courtesy of Marshal Apparel

Designblok 2014

Are you ready for this year's Designblok (Prague Design and Fashion Week)? Starting October 7th and running till 12th. More info here. We'll be watching closely, so follow us...