Interview / deFORM
Open to challenge
Czechoslovakian designer duo deFORM (Václav Mlynář, Jakub Pollág) have operated in the area of product design since 2011. Experiments with materials, combining old with new, clean and functional form – these are just basic features of this young, dynamic studio. Václav and Jakub are open to new challenges and ready to improve awareness of fine design in our territory.
Hex Table, for BOMMA, source: studiodeform.com
Do you have any common creative philosophy?
We try to work as Hemingway did. To transmit our message – what we have wanted to achieve in a particular project – briefly and clearly, without any unnecessary gloss.
How do you perceive contemporary situation in design in the Slovak and Czech Republic?
The situation in the Czech Republic is slightly ahead of the Slovak Republic. The companies here have aninterest in creating new products and they try to address designers. But we still need to attract and retain customers – common people. More or less, always the very same people are interested in design. I do not say that everybody should study history of design, but it would be great if people could appreciate an extraordinary product.
Which one of your projects do you appreciate the most?
We like our collection of marble objects Bianco P, mainly because of the adventurous travels across Italy,thanks to which it has come to life. And also a collection of lamps Transmission, which has sort of opened us the door to the world.
What are you currently working on?
We are preparing a collection of lamps for Lasvit, for the Vienna design week we are preparing two products in cooperation with the traditional Vienna shoe producer Scheer, which has almost a 200 hundred years old history and is still being led by a grand-grand son. For the Prague Designblok we are preparing our own installation, which is still a little bit secret, and we are also in a process of a commercialcooperation with Nike, Botas or the Slovak brand Popular.
You have accomplished quite a lot already, but anyway, you are a young studio; therefore I would like to ask – do you have any dream project or cooperation?
There are so many things. We enjoy trying new things, which are a challenge to us. That is why our projects are very different from each other – from small architecture, interiors, exhibitions, presentations of products,through furniture, accessories, industrial mass products up to limited editions of artistic objects. It is always a pleasure, when a client surprises us with a new interesting project. We only hope that things would evolve this way further on.
Orbital, for BOMMA, source: studiodeform.com