Roman Vrtiska Nadrazní 141 250 64 Hovorcovice okr. Praha - vychod Czech Republic roman.vrtiska@czechdesign.cz www.czechdesign.cz "Hello everybody, my name is Roman Vrtiska and I’m from the Czech Republic." "Roman, I know that you are currently studying your second year at AAAD (Academy of Architecture, Arts and Design) in Prague. Can you tell us about your main interests, activities, and what designers have influenced you and your work?" "Well, at this time most of my activities are connected with the academy because I really enjoy it and would like to continue this work in the future. I’m also participating on a project involving an Internet portal about design trends (czechdesign.cz) with a few other people from different schools. But this is more journalistic work then one of a real designer. What about influential icons in design? I think each design should improve in one specific way. I would like it to be this way, for example, I look at the futuristic visions of Austrian architects Alles Wird Gut, the tendency of Werner Aisslinger to find new technologies and engage new materials with different branches of industry, the silent poetry of Scandinavian design, and the fantastic humor of Holland Droogdesign". "How is the situation in the Czech Republic concerning the design landscape? What opportunities does one have to study design and then pursue design as a profession?" "Design is not only going through a big boom in the Czech Republic but also in general. The word –“design” is being used and heard nearly everywhere. This includes the Czech republic. It also gets good ratings but it doesn’t mean that all the designers always get good money or the chance to have things their own way. The design scene is quite short ranged and exclusive. It’s very difficult to be a professional designer in the Czech Republic at this time." "What are the relationships between traditional handcraft and modern design in the Czech Republic?" "I’m not sure about the situation in all branches of handcraft but for example traditional glass craft in the Czech republic, which is very well known over the world, has a good and close connection with design." "What is the public perception of design in the Czech republic? What design fairs and exhibitions take place there? Did you participate in any of them?" "I think the public perception of design is mainly positive but there are some negative sides. Design is being seen and associated with money and luxury in the public’s view. This is a far cry from the original idea of Bauhaus. It is something that we should fight and stand up against because design is not to be a question of big money. Design fairs occur more often these days. It is still a work in progress (evolving) but this is a good (primary impulse or first step), and that’s what counts. These events are a good drive and I’m very grateful to those people who organize the fairs, I keep my fingers crossed for them." "What effect do you think the Czech Republic’s entrance into the EU will have on the design landscape in country? Do you think the situation will worsen or improve? Do you think that Czech design will succeed regarding the competition with other countries?" "I don’t expect too much from the entrance into the EU. I think there is enormous potential, but also a huge risk, I think this is how many people feel about the situation. I believe it is a potential for the boarders of our market to get wider and a chance for a little unknown Czech human lost in the masses of other humans to be able to stand up on his own two feet. What I hope, even though it may be a little naïve, is that it will be an impulse which will work more offensively than defensively." "Are you frightened of an invasion by foreign companies, which may eat up the smaller factories in the Czech Republic? Do you think about the negative influences?" "I think it has already happened, not necessarily in the design field but in many others. It is difficult to answer this question accurately. These days, small Czech factories are barely surviving. It is only a matter of time when some bigger company will swallow them up. Surely is a loss of some form of national identity. I don’t really like to use this term, but I think globalization is a very controversial issue (hot topic) that grew up almost spontaneously with the help of information technologies. I think a form of national identity should remain intact and I think it will be very important how the Czech government will react. Will they support smaller factories or will they prefer the bigger ones, which may lead to some gigantic company swallowing us all." "And the last question is: Do you suppose there will be some development in the field of service design and graphic design in the Czech Republic after the entrance into the EU?" "If you focus on the issue with reference to graphic design it is like it is only happening in the Czech Republic, graphic design together with web design in general is skyrocketing. Maybe this is because nearly anyone with basic knowledge of computers “can learn how to design” and they can also work from the comfort of their own homes. It will certainly develop even without the entrance into the EU. The entrance into the EU will surely be the primary impulse but it will depend on us. Motto: “We are the Czechs, who are better”, is not the right way. We ought to be more involved. We are a self-centered nation due to our nonchalant nature. We should reexamine our priorities and our way of thinking. We are still looking for our own way and identity."