Since 2006, the Czech Design Academy has annually awarded the Czech Grand Design Award to the products of individuals and companies. One of the most important categories is the “Manufacturer of the Year”, which is awarded to a manufacturer for the most original design contained in various projects. The Czech Design Academy believes that there are only a few of these companies, so it decided to motivate them with this award, but also to make them more known. Let us recall the most original ones.
In the first year, the “Mr. Egg” set from the company Moravská skloárny Květnáwon the prize for its original design and high quality workmanship. This company is the longest-established glass workshop in our country, which changed ownership several times after the revolution, finally becoming part of the Crystalite Bohemia group in 2011. [In 2008, the company won the LUCIS award for its helium, neon, argon, and antimony collection of lighting fixtures. The Brno-based company pays homage to traditional Czech glassmaking and strives to produce high quality products.
In 2010, TONreceived an outstanding result in a furniture collection called simply 2010. This unique furniture is created by hand bending wood in collaboration with contemporary designers who are able to design these classic pieces of furniture to fit perfectly into modern interiors.
In 2013,inflatable toys manufactured by Fatra Napajedraattracted much attention. This is a company that deals with the processing of plastics into a variety of products. Although this toy is not the company\’s main product, the imaginative and very original design was impressive.
In 2015, Mikovwon an award for its pocket collection of pocket knives. The company was founded in the late 18th century and today focuses primarily on the production of pocket knives. The most famous knife in the Czech Republic, the Livička, also came from the company\’s workshop; in 2012, the company opened a museum of knife-making on its premises.
