Petra Stefankova 81106 Bratislava Slovak Republic info@animacia.sk www.design.animacia.sk CV Petra "Hi! My name is Petra Stefankova, I am 25 and I come from the Slovak Republic. I  graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, from the Graphic Design Department. I am a freelance graphic designer, illustrator, 2D and 3D computer and classic animator, and fine artist. My main field of work is in the culture sector like theatre, events, literature, music, film and sport. I also studied animation at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague in the Czech Republic and nowadays I am interested in animation, direction and screenwriting and play an important role in productions of animated TV commercials, short films, jingles and multimedia presentations. Slovakia has a long beautiful design tradition, if we don’t consider those hard and limiting socialist times of course. In former times great designers came from the fine art sector. In the thirties they were affected by Slovak national awakening tendencies, progressive profiling of their own nature of Slovak culture arising from folk art. The first all-round artists were clearly Martin Benka, Ludovit Fulla, later also Ernest Zmetak, Miroslav Cipar, Lubimor Kratky and many more. A very strong generation grew in the eighties and most of these outstanding personalities are still working in the graphic design field today, such as Vladislav Rostoka, Svetozar Mydlo, Lubomir Longauer, a bit younger Dusan Junek and others. At present, the International Poster Triennial in Trnava takes an important place in Slovak design, and has been endorsed by ICOGRADA since last year. Other exceptional events are for example the Biennial of Book Art and Design in Martin, EcoPoster in Zilina etc. There is also a show of the best design works presented at the Design Centrum Slovakia inter alia also in a form of National Design Award. Besides classic academic design education, which is based at the known Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava, partially at the Faculty of Architecture of Slovak Technical University and other colleges, academies or universities, there are also alternative educational and supporting resources. One of them runs non-stop on the internet thanks to the discussion and information portal forum.animacia.sk. Designers have many opportunities to exchange experiences or opinions and to consult their work in progress not only with Slovak or Czech authors, but also with anyone all over the world in English. Concerning the nature of Slovak graphic design today, I think there is still a close relation with traditional art crafts. New design methods are still in the beginnings and I think it is very positive that computers are becoming more important. Even though computer culture has cornered the whole market it is possible to see not only a synthesis of tradition and current computer tendencies, but also a conjunction of all contemporary international trends. Personally I find it very important to follow these trends, to take the best of them, but it is most important to always keep a typical face. Let’s talk about the membership of Slovakia in the EU and its positive or negative impacts on Slovak graphic design. I do not think there will be great changes, because the actual influence from foreign countries and cultures has already been there for a long time. After joining, it will continue in the same way like today. What will change for sure are the possibilities especially for young designers who will work for a wider market and that is a very positive thing. The next great thing is the collegial network with other designers from EU countries and the chances to study will improve a lot. Competition in the market will be stronger, but we have many good mannered and qualified people, who will be able to break through. Additionally, the nature of our work is and will be unique and nonrecurring far and near. Probably the need for stronger competitiveness of Slovak companies will lead to more interest in good design and brand awareness will grow gradually in the community. I don’t see that there will be any negative aspects considering the design profession when Slovakia joins the EU and I enjoy every new challenge."