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| Atelier 304, Prague |
Our first stop on Monday was to Petr Babák's Atelier of Graphic Design and New Media at the Academy of Arts, Architecture and
Design - otherwise known as Atelier 304 or Treasure Island! A combination of BA, MA and PhD students showed a selection of their work, and also their working space, which was such a wonderful, creative environment. Level 5 Graphic Design students were so inspired that they have since returned to College and given their own studio a spring clean and a decorate, with posters given to us by Atelier 304! After lunch we travelled to DOX Centre for Contemporary Art for a tour, travelling there on one of the city's trams. It was great to get out to the 7th district and see a little of Czech suburbia.
Come the evening, we called in to meet a fashion designer and illustrator called Ros, recommended to us by Atelier 304. Ros runs a studio called GMBS based in a large artists' studio space close to DOX. For dinner, we met with designer Helena Jiskrova who provided an insightful outlook on the life of a young designer in the city. Helena also spent some time reviewing student portfolios which was a great experience for them.
Level 6 BA (Hons) Graphic Arts & Design student, Lisa Dale, said, "The main highlight of the trip for me was realising that there is life in design outside of Manchester, and in fact in the U.K. In many ways I wish I could go back already! Looking around the city of Prague, I felt like I wanted to be a part of it's future. Travelling really does broaden your horizons and I can't help but feel envious of the Czech Republic's particular contribution to design. Everyone we spoke to was so insightful, helpful and eager to converse with us. I feel very grateful for the opportunities that the trip provided for us as students. It has most definitely had an impact on my development as a designer."
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| Sedlec Ossuary |
Throughout the rest of the week we visited a fascinating church made of bones called Sedlec Ossuary - students were amazed to see typography and heraldry made of human remains! On the flip side, a much more humbling experience was a trip to Terezin town and prison, used to during the Second World War as a ghetto and prison for both Jewish and other imprisoned people. Students' minds were opened to the importance of awareness when it comes to this all too present history. They also all realised how fortunate we are to live free lives - ones which are full of opportunity.
On Wednesday evening we visited Studio Najbrt, an internationally acclaimed graphic design studio based in Prague. Dita and Petr presented so many wonderful projects to us. Students were able to study several branding projects, as well as ceramics, style guides and book design. One of the most valuable aspects of studio visits is for students to see designers working for real clients, in real spaces - it brings their education and aspirations to life, which is genuinely priceless.
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| Terry Posters Archive |
Thursday bought around the rather sad prospect of returning home, but not before a truly incredible trip to the Terry Posters shop and archive. We had a behind the scenes tour of 1000s of Czech film posters from the 1940s-80s, along with an hour's lecture on the history and wider context of the collection. It was so very insightful to see the collection en masse, and also consider the impact of communism on design.
BA (Hons) Graphic Arts & Design alumnus, Radomir, said, "From my point of view, of not being either a member staff or a student, I loved every moment. I enjoyed the fact that nobody complained about (fast and lot of) walking and a busy and hectic schedule! The only thing that annoys me is that it's over! The Treasure Island visit worked as a very good and useful intro for our creative adventure in Prague. The practitioners that we met were all so friendly and enthusiastic. It was also refreshing to get out of Prague and see more ordinary Czech places dotted with unique gems such as Sedlec Ossuary. I very much enjoyed the very honest and humane words of designer, Helena Jiskrova, which were not only helpful for students, but also for myself as a graduate.
Lastly, I'm also glad to have opened a door of communication with Studio Najbrt. However, as a visual and educational highlight I consider the visit to the Terry Posters shop to be at the top of the list. I felt genuinely touched and moved by the volume of the posters as well as the stories that the archivists had to tell. Overall, it was an amazing trip - thank you for the opportunity."
Overall, the trip was invaluable to both students, alumni, and staff. We so often take for granted the fact that these trips do literally open doors and opportunities for our students. We are so very fortunate to have the luxury of smaller tutor groups that enable us to carry on with the planning of trips each year. Long may it last…
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