The grand designer of the year 2025 is Krejčiřík, and Eisler has entered the Hall of Fame

Eva Eisler

Prague – The main winner of the Czech Grand Design Award 2025 is Jiří Krejčiřík for his collections of lighting and musical furniture. Eva Eisler, a designer, architect, and educator, was inducted into the Hall of Fame. A total of 11 awards, decided by the judges of the Academy of Design of the Czech Republic, were presented to designers this evening at the Estates Theatre in Prague. In this year's 20th edition, the awards took the form of seal rings designed by last year's main winner, fashion designer Jan Černý.

Krejčiřík received the Grand Designer award for two collections of lighting and for a furniture altar for music lovers. Besides the main award, he also won the Ministry of Culture's Designer of the Year 2025 award. Krejčiřík has appeared among the three finalists for this award three times since his debut in 2019, winning for the first time.

According to jury member Michaela Kádnerová, his designs belong to collectible design that approaches art. "In the Czech environment, his approach is refreshing and unique in many ways. He does not let himself be constrained by trends or the limits of mass production or the market," she stated.

Eva Eisler, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame and whose husband was American architect and co-author of the Prague department store Máj, John Eisler, taught for a long time at the Prague Academy of Art, Architecture and Design. She has been named Designer of the Year twice for her jewelry and has also worked as an architect.

The 73-year-old Eisler, who spent part of her life in the USA, has significantly influenced the shape of Czech design after 1989 according to the Academy of Design of the Czech Republic. Induction into the Hall of Fame is associated with extraordinary creative, educational, or theoretical activities.

In a newly announced category this year, spatial design, the award was won by O+M Studio for the exhibition architecture for the Czech Krumlov Palace of Illustration. Fashion Designer of the Year became Aleš Hnátek for his Wardrobe 2 and 3 collections. In the jewelry category, Bold Studio by Markéta Kratochvílová shone with its Chloris collection.

The trio Ondřej Báchor, Jan Novák, and Matěj Činčera received the title of Graphic Designers of the Year for their ceremonial execution of the Czech Constitution. Photographer of the Year was announced by the jury to be Tereza Mundilová for her portraits as well as campaigns for major fashion and jewelry companies.

The winner of the Illustration of the Year category was Magdalena Rutová for the second time for several of last year's works. She creatively illustrated the curtain and materials for the performance Má vlast at the Prague venue Azyl 78. The jury was also impressed by her illustrations for the installation Momentum of a Decision at the Milan Triennale of Design and Architecture and her illustrations for the book Women's Work by Pavel Klusák.

The award for Manufacturer of the Year 2025 was given to the glassworks Květná 1974 for a collection in which they portrayed the ideas of Japanese architect Kengo Kuma for the Japanese market.

This year's Discovery of the Year was decided not only by the jury but by the final voting of the entire Academy of Design of the Czech Republic. It was awarded to photographer Eda Babák for his works for the Gallery of the Capital City of Prague and for magazines Elle Decoration, Mile, and Vogue. According to jury member Tereza Zelenková, Babák avoids unnecessary stylization and noise; his direct images are also open to improvisation and experimentation.