On June 16th 2019 it was ten years to the day that Kateřina Šachová, a graphic design student at Prague’s Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design, defended her diploma project – a concept for a new Czech stationery manufacturer. Kateřina set herself the goal of renewing our appreciation for the beauty of paper and paper-making, while pointing to the central importance of paper, both in our cultural history and in contemporary life.
Crucial to the success of the project was the spirit of creative freedom fostered by the academy, and in particular the involvement of the ‘three fates’ – Juraj Horváth and Michaela Kukovičová from the illustration and graphic design studios and graphic designer Jan Činčera, who acted as ‘opponent’ on the day.
Kateřina’s diploma piece was awarded an Exit Design prize as part of the Czech National Award for Student Design, and she was also nominated for a Czech Grand Design award in the ‘Discovery of the Year’ and ‘Graphic Designer of the Year’ categories.
