I know when the design is finished

Among the most well-known personalities in the Czech design scene is Petr Novague. The Nano sofa, the R200 sports car, and newly, the most beautiful door hardware, Cobra. Alongside the prestigious Red Dot Award, he has also received the German Design Award and the European Product Design Award for the Spectra, Infinity, and Ultima handles.

"Once, someone famous and smart said that there are three essential products that every great designer must create: a bicycle, a chair, and a corkscrew. Personally, I would happily add a door handle to that list," says Petr Novague.

What must a designer be capable of?
Education is key. If you don’t understand your field, and if you don't master the programs that will be your daily routine, then it's a problem that will catch up with you sooner or later. The differences in designers’ skills are incredible, and the critical part of design - 3D modeling - separates the wheat from the chaff. Being a good designer is similar to becoming a successful athlete. It’s hard work and takes a lifetime.

What brought you to design?
I discovered it relatively late, around the age of 16; before that, I was more inclined towards painting or illustration. Even though I spent four years at an art high school, where we worked with clay and the output was predominantly sculptural. Perhaps it was there that I realized how important shaping is.


Is there something like a "signature" of a top designer?
That’s a complex question; there are two levels of a designer's approach to projects. The first is when a designer tries to emphasize their own signature and draws attention to themselves. Personally, I find the second level closer, where the designer focuses attention on the brand they are designing for and creates its "design language" - the signature and expression that will make it recognizable from the competition.

Do you have a role model?
I don’t; role models are dangerous. There are designers I greatly respect because they changed the world. And someone I will always admire is Steve Jobs.

When do you feel satisfied as a designer during the creative process?
I personally am never satisfied, but I have experience and know when a design is done. It sounds trivial, but recognizing that moment is essential because a person could keep designing and changing indefinitely.
And how does the work of a designer for Czech and foreign clients differ?
It’s similar; today many Czech companies are owned by foreign capital, with only differences arising in the space they give the designer. And, of course, they differ in budget.

What is important for you in accepting a commission?
It's precisely that mentioned space. I want to have the possibility to genuinely create something; I don’t want to just come up with some superficiality. Recently, I saw a tram design presented as a design innovation, yet it was only its graphic solution and a new logo. There are many such projects, but they would not be a challenge for me.


You have received numerous prestigious awards, including the Red Dot Award. Most recently, you received the German Design Award for premium handles from Cobra. Is this a satisfaction for you?
International awards have become a natural part of our work. In design-developed countries, the number of awards relative to the number of items a designer creates is a clear measure of quality. It’s probably similar to film, music, or sports.

Why is design important for such a purely practical item as a door handle?
They say someone famous said that a great designer must design a bicycle, a chair, and a corkscrew. I would happily add a door handle. It is precisely that product, which is unobtrusive but you touch it daily, and it must function naturally and not be bothersome.

What was the assignment? Elegance - timelessness - luxury?
Yes, certainly. But also seriousness, solidity, and honesty. Words are one thing, but transforming their meaning into form is not as easy as it might seem.


How did the creation of the Cobra hardware design proceed?
The design process is always the same; certain principles work that I strictly adhere to in order to avoid mistakes in shaping. I always start with sketches, but soon 3D modeling comes in, and then a return to sketching, and so on repeatedly. When the design seems to be finished, it is necessary to create a model or prototype to verify the ergonomics and how the product impacts reality. This is a very crucial point. For the Cobra handles, we printed three series of models to fine-tune the new ergonomics concept.

Is the technical solution of a handle restrictive for a designer?
Of course, it is restrictive, furthermore, it is a typical product where a well-established form plays a role, a certain cliché. Another important fact is that the designer designs a handle that is not only meant for end customers, but its fate can also be influenced by the architect of the house or apartment. One must think about all of this when designing.

Who do you think will be the typical customer for these designer and more luxurious handles?
A person who cares about what surrounds them. They do not focus solely on price; they are sensitive and can appreciate quality, timelessness, and beauty. The new series of handles intentionally has different models; one handle is ergonomically very bold, defining a new type of grip, while another is very simple and timeless…

The Story of the Handle The primary goal of Cobra was to create a new category of premium handles with exceptional design and quality. The assignment was clear: minimalism, timeless elegance, first-rate ergonomics, and indisputable quality. Collaboration and the combination of cutting-edge technologies, experience, and design expertise resulted in excellent designs for truly premium handles - SPECTRA, INFINITY, and ULTIMA. The handles forge a new trend based on perfect ergonomics without sharp edges, finished in luxurious matte black. They are made from a single piece of premium alloy, which further emphasizes the simplicity of the shapes. The door hardware impresses with minimalist elegance that remains exceptional and attractive even in today’s fast-changing world. Premium design and quality were also confirmed by design awards from the European Product Design Award 2018 and the German Design Award 2018.