Jiří Krejčiřík Named Czech Grand Design’s Designer of the Year 2025

Prague-based designer Jiří Krejčiřík has been awarded the prestigious Designer of the Year 2025 title at the Czech Grand Design Awards. He also received the grand prize, recognized for his innovative approach to furniture and lighting design that blends artistic expression with functional needs.

Award-Winning Designs

Krejčiřík’s winning portfolio includes the Emílie and Emil lighting collections created for Modernista, the B1 Lamps paper lighting collection for the social enterprise Skoba, and the Audio Altar vinyl record cabinet designed for the Nozomi brand. According to the expert jury, his designs often challenge conventional perceptions of furniture and decorative objects, drawing inspiration from European cultural heritage.

A Rising Star in Czech Design

Since his independent debut at the Designblok festival in 2019, Krejčiřík has gained recognition both in the Czech Republic and internationally, exhibiting in prestigious galleries. Michaela Kádnerová, a member of the expert jury from the Design Academy of the Czech Republic and curator of the Moravian Gallery in Brno, noted that Krejčiřík’s work transcends typical design boundaries, functioning as collectible art. Kádnerová stated that Krejčiřík “does not allow himself to be bound by trends or the limits of mass production or the market.”

O+M Studio Wins Inaugural Spatial Design Award

The 2025 awards also introduced a new category for spatial design, with O+M Studio taking the top prize for their exhibition architecture for the Palace of Illustrations in Český Krumlov Castle. The studio, comprised of Monika Matějková and Ondřej Čech, is known for its bold leverage of color and materials in creating immersive exhibition spaces.

Other 2025 Czech Grand Design Winners

• Fashion Designer of 2025: Aleš Hnátek – Wardrobe 2 and Wardrobe 3 collections
• Jewelry Designer of 2025: Bold Studio by Markéta Kratochvílová – Chloris collection
• Graphic Designer of 2025: Ondřej Báchor, Jan Novák and Matěj Činčera – ceremonial performance of the Constitution of the Czech Republic
• Graphic Designer of 2025: Tereza Mundilová – portraits of Marina Abramović for Re-Edition Magazine and Anne Imhof for Zeit, photos for Numéro Berlin and campaigns for Striplink, Puma Mostro and Adidas Superstar
• Graphic Designer of 2025: Magdalena Rutová – illustrations for promotional materials and a cartoon curtain for the production Má vlast (Asylum 78), illustrations for the installation Momentum of a Decision at the Design and Architecture Triennale in Milan and the book Women’s Work (Pavel Klusák, Guest, collaboration: Michaela Kukovičová)
• Design Collection of 2025: Květná 1794 – collection of cups and saucers Drop (Klára Janypková, Tomáš Kučera) and collection of glasses and vases Haoto (Kengo Kuma)
• Photography of 2025: Eda Babák – photos for GHMP, Vogue Art Project and Mile Magazine and Klauzura 2025 photos for Elle Decoration

Eva Eisler Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award

Jeweler, designer, teacher, and artist Eva Eisler was inducted into the Czech Design Hall of Fame for her extraordinary contribution to Czech design. Eisler, who spent time working in New York before returning to the Czech Republic in 2006, has significantly influenced the field through her creative work and teaching.

The Czech Grand Design Awards are held under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic and the Capital City of Prague. Winners receive a financial reward from the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic to support their future work, as well as a signet ring designed by last year’s Grand designer, Jan Černý.