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DesignBlok Talks Conference

For the second time during the international DesignBlok festival, the platform for lectures, discussions, and networking among professionals across disciplines will come alive—the DesignBlok Talks conference. This is a long-term initiative aimed at strengthening the professional dimension of the festival, making Designblok Talks an integral part of Professionals’ Day ↗︎ and a key pillar of the professional program for the 28th edition of DesignBlok.

  • International Guests

    This year, over 40 industry leaders from the Czech Republic and abroad will take the stage. Leading global architects, designers, and directors of prestigious brands will present. You will thus gain direct access to the global elite shaping the current industry.

  • Networking Opportunity

    The conference is a key B2B platform, attended by 530 accredited professionals last year. Therefore, it is expanding into a two-day format this year. This will provide you with an ideal space to directly reach out to developers, architects, and manufacturers during Professionals’ Day.

  • Source of Inspiration

    Three program blocks open up topics on the future of design, architecture, and living. The program is co-created by the global design portal Dezeen. The exclusivity of the partnership is underscored by hosting the very first event in the central hall of the newly reconstructed Industrial Palace.

About the conference

The DesignBlok Talks conference is expanding to two days and is the first event to open the newly reconstructed Industrial Palace. This year’s central theme is Light. The three blocks—Future of Design, Future of Architecture, and Future of Living—are created in collaboration with Dezeen magazine. Look forward to industry icons on a stage designed by Marek Cpin, moderated discussions, and exclusive networking.

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

2 days
500+ professionals
40+ speakers
10 countries
25+ talks and panels

Program

  • 6. 10. Tuesday

    • Future of Design

    • 09:00–09:35

      Material as a medium of light

      Moderated talk

      • Moderator: Max Fraser
      • Participants: Laurids Gallée, Jan Plecháč

    • 09:35–09:45

      From tradition to bizarre

      Presentation

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: Jakub Berdych (Artglass)

    • 09:45–10:15

      Czech glassmaking ecosystem 2.0

      Moderated talk

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: Patrik Krejsa (Ravak), Jan Rabell (Brokis), Martin Wichterle (Rückl)

    • 10:15–10:30

      A view from both the outside and the inside

      One to one interview

      • Moderator: Max Fraser
      • Participants: Leon Jakimič (Lasvit), Catherine Shaw (Rizzoli)

    • 10:30–10:55

      Daylight

      Keynote

      • Moderator: Max Fraser
      • Participants: Daniel Rybakken

    • 10:55–11:05

      Storytelling through light

      Presentation

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: Kateřina Handlová

    • Future of Architecture

    • 11:15–11:25

      The memory of place and contemporary lifestyle

      Presentation

      • Moderator: Petr Bakoš
      • Participants: Zástupce Průmyslového paláce na Výstavišti

    • 11:25–11:50

      Nordic light

      Lecture

      • Moderator: Ben Hobson
      • Participants: Patrick Lüth (Snøhetta)

    • 11:50–12:05

      Název (EN)

      Podtitulek (EN)

      • Moderator: Moderátor
      • Participants: Jan Řežáb (JRD)

    • 12:05–12:20

      A facade beyond the building – Vinohradská 8

      Q&A panel

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: Jakub Cigler (Penta), Účastník (PSN)

    • 12:20–12:40

      Space for art

      Presentation

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: David Musil (PSN)

    • 12:40–13:00

      Lights and shadows

      Moderated talk

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: Zuzana Basterrech, Hynek Medřický

  • 7. 10. Wednesday

    • Future of Living

    • 09:00–09:25

      Spatial experience

      Moderated talk

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: Marek Cpin, Jakub Janďourek (Dechem), Michaela Tomišková (Dechem)

    • 09:25–09:55

      Luminaire as creator of an atmosphere

      Keynote

      • Moderator: Max Fraser
      • Participants: Lee Broom

    • 09:55–10:15

      Emotions in the (spot)light

      Moderated talk

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: Václav Mlynář, Maxim Velčovský

    • 10:15–10:35

      Diffusion through material

      Moderated dialogue

      • Moderator: Ben Hobson
      • Participants: Sebastian Herkner

    • 10:35–11:00

      Spectrum of trends

      Dialogue

      • Moderator: Ben Hobson
      • Participants: Hanna Nova Beatrice, Judith van Vliet

    • 11:00–11:20

      Název (EN)

      Presentation

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: Jakub Huráb (LD Seating), Lucie Koldová

    • 11:10–11:30

      Two Bosses of Italian Design

      Moderated Talk

      • Moderator: Ben Hobson
      • Participants: Alberto Perazza (Magis), Federico Palazzari (Nemo, FontanaArte, Driade)

    • 11:50–12:20

      Pause

    • 12:20–12:50

      How taste is formed?

      Moderated talk

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: David Řezníček (Konsepti), Miroslav Stopka (Stopka), Jiří Zavadil (Vitra)

    • 12:50–13:20

      Název (EN)

      Discussion

      • Moderator: Cyril Zammit
      • Participants: Christophe Delcourt, Francesca Molteni

    • 13:20–13:40

      Název (EN)

      Presentation

      • Moderator: Cyril Zammit
      • Participants: Pascale Mussard Siegrist

    • 13:40–14:00

      Bright future

      Presentation

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: Maria Gal Tkačová (Gehl Archi+), Luboš Veselý (KKFF), Účastník (U/U Studio)

    • 14:00–14:20

      Resilience

      Keynote

      • Moderator: Ben Hobson
      • Participants: Stanley Wong

    • 14:20–14:50

      Thinking through light

      Keynote

      • Moderator: Ben Hobson
      • Participants: Claudio Silvestrin

    • 14:50–15:00

      A metaphysical finale?

      Closing presentation

      • Moderator: Petr Šimůnek
      • Participants: Eva Eisler

Moderators

  • Max Fraser (GBR)

    Editorial Director, Dezeen ■ Former Deputy Director, London Design Festival

  • Benedict Hobson (GBR)

    Co-CEO, Dezeen ■ Design journalist

  • Petr Šimůnek (CZE)

    Moderator ■ Former editor-in-chief, Forbes

  • Cyril Zammit (UAE)

    Founder, Design Days Dubai ■ Design advisor

Speakers

  • Lee Broom (GBR)

    Designer ■ Lighting Artist

  • Patrick Lüth (AUS)

    Architect ■ Managing Director, Snøhetta Studio Innsbruck

  • Daniel Rybakken (NOR)

    Lighting designer ■ Artist

  • Claudio Silvestrin (ITA)

    Architect ■ Designer

  • Stanley Wong (HKG)

    Visual artist ■ Designer

  • Hanna Nova Beatrice (SWE)

    Founder, The New Era Magazine ■ Former Director, Stockholm Furniture Fair and Stockholm Design Week

  • Jakub Berdych Karpelis (CZE)

    Art director, ARTGLASS ■ Founder and chief designer, Qubus

  • Marek Cpin (CZE)

    Scenographer ■ Costume Designer

  • Christophe Delcourt (FRA)

    Founder, Delcourt Collection ■ Designer

  • Eva Eisler (CZE)

    Umělkyně a designérka ■ Bývalá vedoucí Ateliéru K.O.V., UMPRUM

  • Laurids Gallée (NLD)

    Founder, Studio Laurids Gallée ■ Designer

  • Kateřina Handlová (CZE)

    Creative director, Rückl ■ Glass and lighting designer

  • Sebastian Herkner (DEU)

    Founder, Studio Sebastian Herkner ■ Product designer

  • Jakub Huráb (CZE)

    Co-owner and managing director, LD Seating

  • Leon Jakimič (CZE)

    Founder and owner, Lasvit ■ Entrepreneur

  • Jakub Janďourek (CZE)

    Co-founder, studio DECHEM ■ Designer

  • Lucie Koldová (CZE)

    Product and lighting designer ■ Former art director, Brokis

  • Václav Mlynář (CZE)

    Creative director, Bomma ■ Designer

  • Francesca Molteni (ITA)

    Founder, MUSE Factory of Projects ■ Producer and director

  • Pascale Mussard Siegrist (FRA)

    Vice-President, Fondation d’entreprise Hermès ■ Former President, Villa Noailles

  • Alberto Perazza (ITA)

    CEO and partner, Magis

  • Jan Plecháč (CZE)

    Art director, Moser ■ Multidisciplinary designer

  • David Řezníček (CZE)

    Founder and CEO, Konsepti

  • Catherine Shaw (GBR)

    Author ■ Architecture and design journalist

  • Miroslav Stopka (CZE)

    Founder and owner, STOPKA

  • Mária Gaľová Tkáčová (SVK)

    Architect & Urban Designer

  • Michaela Tomišková (CZE)

    Co-founder, studio DECHEM ■ Designer

  • Judith van Vliet (ESP)

    Founder, The Color Authority ■ Expert in Color Strategy and CMF Design

  • Maxim Velčovský (CZE)

    Art director, Lasvit ■ Designér

  • Luboš Veselý (CZE)

    Foundation director, Karel Komárek Family Foundation

  • Martin Wichterle (CZE)

    Co-owner, BOMMA and Rückl ■ Chairman, Association of Czech Industrial Design

  • Jiří Zavadil (CZE)

    Managing director, Vitra Czech Republic, Slovakia & Poland

Tickets

Ticket for the two-day DesignBlok Talks conference, including access to Professionals’ Day (October 6, 2026, 1:00–5:00 PM), with the option to visit the festival outside public hours and meet exhibitors in person.

It also includes a standard festival ticket for the public for the entire duration of the event.

  • Conference Pass & Festival Pass

    2,400 CZK

    ticket for the DesignBlok Talks program and standard festival admission

  • VIP Conference Pass & VIP Festival Pass

    5,900 CZK

    access to the VIP Networking Lounge with unlimited refreshments, plus all VIP Festival Pass benefits

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