There was much praise for two participating groups of Czech designers at the launch of the joint European and American design project, ECO Solidarity in New York. During the deliberations and voting of the Advisory Committee, they scored high and their projects proved a fair match for their competitors. The organizers eventually decided to include both the design studio of Herrmann & Coufal and Brokis represented by Lucie Koldová. The project nomination partner is Designblok.
Alongside designers representing seven other European countries, Herrmann & Coufal will present its Nomad concept based on the “Do-It-Yourself” principle.
They will participate in the virtual trade show CLOSEUP as well as an online exhibition at WantedDesignnyc.com curated in New York by Odile Hainaut who dedicates her work to displaying contemporary design.
Brokis presents its range of eco-friendly products designed by Brokis Art Director, Lucie Koldová, and made from the innovative Brokisglass at the Janštejn Glassworks. Selected products will also be part of the WantedDesignnyc.com online exhibition.
Each European country has also nominated a design expert for the Advisory Committee. The Czech member, Danica Kovářová, comments:
"I was rather torn when it came to the vote as I did not have a clear favorite. Both Czech candidate projects offer unique and equally relevant solutions. To me, BROKISGLASS represents industrial design. It applies a sustainable strategy which should become part of the future business plans of each and every company in view of the current global situation! It demonstrates the promising commercial prospects of unconventional upcycled material: your own production waste. And it shows ways of using it to design lighting and furniture with a great market potential and esthetic value.
On the contrary, the NOMAD collection of lighting by the Herrmann & Coufal designer tandem is not a corporate project, but the product of an independent young studio venture which works with standard sources of material (components from the Hornbach hobby market) in an unconventional way. It was only after having taken account of the main criteria of ECO Solidarity and the pressing challenges of the current covid times: human-centered design, sustainable and real-life applicable solutions, etc. that I made up my mind to give NOMAD my vote. It was mainly because its concept is inclusive, rather than exclusive, and it is accessible and open to everyone, and while it elevates DIY to the level of top-class design, it manages to democratize the whole process! I also appreciate its philosophy: this is not only about a guide on how to make furnishings with a timeless look, but also about creating a bond between a human and a new object and about understanding its real value.
It was an honor to be part of the Advisory Committee and discover new talents from all participating countries. I see ECO Solidarity as an event which is as important, or perhaps even more important than all international design weeks put together because the principle of infinite growth and consumption has exhausted itself. If we are not quick enough to respond, the answer will be a total collapse. Do we want to stand by and watch?”
ECO Solidarity is a joint project of eight countries grouped in the New York-based European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC). The project was initiated by the Polish Cultural Institute in New York and Tomek Rygalik. The initiative addresses the urgent need for a more human-centered design in response to the humanitarian and public health crises, focusing on ecology, climate change, public health and a new approach to public spaces. The Czech Center participates in the project together with its partners from Austria, Germany, Poland, Malta, Romania, Flanders and Wallonia.
ECO Solidarity New York:
May 16–18: Virtual CLOSEUP Trade Show
June 15–July 15: Online exhibition at WantedDesignnyc.com
