8.–12. 10. 2025
Designblok, various locations in Prague
Open daily 10 am – 9 pm (Sun 10 am – 7 pm)
UMPRUM will present a diverse program at Designblok, featuring the acclaimed Clay House project—first showcased at Milan Design Week—a photo series exploring the theme of Courage, and the results of the collaboration with the Rückl glassworks on the VOSKLE collection. This year’s graduates and the school’s faculty will also be represented, along with a fashion show and the festive launch of new publications from UMPRUM Publishing.
The Clay House outdoor installation is the result of a collaboration between the Studio of Architecture III and the Studio of Ceramics and Porcelain. Together, the students explored the role of ceramics in architectural concepts as an extension of the human body, drawing inspiration from archetypal architectural elements such as walls, roofs, columns, and more. This approach led to a series of diverse projects, including roof tiles that capture water, perforated bricks that play with light, and fire pits fueled by liquid ethanol. Together, these elements create a unique ecosystem of the house.
The Courage exhibition by the Studio of Photography II at the UM Gallery directly responds to this year’s Designblok theme of the same name. It examines the topic from multiple perspectives—fear, crossing boundaries, and the search for inner strength. Courage can appear as a heroic gesture or as an act of silence. Just as the range of attitudes is diverse, so too is the selection of media, which includes photography, video, and site-specific installations. The exhibition is accompanied by the launch of the studio’s publication One: In the Inability to See All, I Observe More, published by UMPRUM Press. In addition to a series of photographs, the book features a collage of texts by curators Alena Kotzmannová and Karin Zadrick, in dialogue with selected student writings, as well as a theoretical essay by Jiří Melzmuf. The book reflects—and is itself the result of—a process of sharing and collaborative work.
The Studio of Furniture and Interior Design will present its project VOSKLE, created in collaboration with the Rückl glassworks. Students had the opportunity to explore the limits of glass as a material, working with its physical and aesthetic properties and experimenting with Rückl’s signature cut. The aim was to spark a dialogue between glassmaking tradition and experimental design, uncovering new creative perspectives. The collection of student works will be complemented by pieces from Kateřina Handlová, Rückl’s art director and UMPRUM alumna, and Rony Plesl, head of the Studio of Glass.
The Fashion Show Fokus Broumov by the Studio of Fashion and Footwear Design will present collections inspired by the Broumov region. Students collaborated with the cotton fabric manufacturer Veba and with the social cooperative and used-textile sorting center Diakonie Broumov. The focus was on sustainability, impeccable craftsmanship, and contemporary design. This year’s bachelor’s and master’s projects will also be included in the show.
In addition to the studio exhibitions, selected UMPRUM graduates and faculty will also be represented at Designblok. In the competitive Diploma Selection exhibition, Gréta Kušnírová, a graduate of the Studio of Ceramics and Porcelain, will present her diploma project Ľ Italiano Vero, alongside her classmate Matyáš Zagiba with UNEARTHED: Recontextualization of Gemer Ceramics. Dita Koubek, a graduate of the Studio K.O.V., will exhibit a series of aids for people with mental and combined disabilities, titled Handy. Kamila Dvořáková, a student from the Studio of Glass, will showcase her bachelor project, a collection of vases called Spiky. At the fashion show in Nová spirála, the diploma project The Dress Diary by Hana Valtová a graduate from the Studio of Fashion and Footwear Design will be featured, along with a collection by Šimon Žák from the same studio. The work of UMPRUM faculty in the High Craft exhibition includes pieces by Rony Plesl, the head of the Studio of Glass, and Milan Pekař and Tereza Sluková, heads of the Studio of Ceramics and Porcelain.
The presentation of the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague (UMPRUM) at Designblok offers an annual showcase of selected projects that reflect the school’s core values. Its priorities include a strong focus on sustainability, ecology, high-quality craftsmanship, and the integration of tradition with innovation. Equally essential is collaboration—not only between studios, but also between students and companies or institutions—providing valuable practical experience and preparation for their future creative careers. UMPRUM’s current exhibitions, located across various venues in the center of Prague, will be open to the public until Sunday, October 12th.
Accompanying program
October 10th, 2025, starting at 6 pm
Launch of the ONE publication
UM Gallery, UMPRUM, Jana Palacha Square 80, Prague 1
During the launch of the book ONE: In the Inability to See All, I Observe More by the Studio of Photography II, a music program will take place in collaboration with Radio202. The focus will be primarily on ambient and experimental genres. On a small stage, three Radio202 ambassadors will perform sets that evoke the atmosphere and character of the publication. The evening will conclude with a performance by the duo Strýc & Píšťalka.
October 9th, 2025, at 5 pm
Launch of Eva Eisler's publication – Taming Infinity
Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, 17. listopadu 2 (entrance from Široká Street), Prague 1
October 8th, 2025, from 6 pm
Fashion Show Fokus Broumov
UMPRUM Technology Centre, Mikulandská 134/5, Prague 1
Exhibitions
Clay House
Outdoor installation, Křižík Pavilions, Výstaviště, Prague 7, EXT.03
Courage
UM Gallery, UMPRUM, Jan Palach Square 80, Prague 1
VOSKLE – Rückl x UMPRUM
Křižík Pavilion B, Výstaviště, Prague 7, KB.40
Gréta Kušnírová – Diploma Project Ľ Italiano Vero
Diploma Selection, Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, 17. listopadu 2, Prague 1, 1st floor, U.101
Matyáš Zagiba – Diploma Project UNEARTHED: Recontextualization of Gemer Ceramics
Diploma Selection, Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, 17. listopadu 2, Prague 1, 1st floor, U.101
Kamila Dvořáková – Bachelor Project Spiky
Openstudio (Designers) – Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, 17. listopadu 2, Prague 1
Dita Koubek – Diploma Project Handy
Openstudio (Designers) – Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, 17. listopadu 2, Prague 1
Hana Valtová – Diploma Project The Dress Diary
Fashion Show, Nová spirála, Výstaviště, Prague 7
Šimon Žák
Fashion Show, Nová spirála, Výstaviště, Prague 7
Rony Plesl
High Craft, Royal Summer Palace, L.14
Tereza Sluková & Milan Pekař
High Craft, Royal Summer Palace, L.13
