You founded the studio Jan Plecháč & Henry Wielgus, do you understand each other apart from design?
Even though we both have different personalities, we understand each other very well. Our work is a big part of our lives, so there's no other way.
What is the hardest thing about being a designer? Have you ever felt like you can't come up with ideas?
People are their own masters, which, apart from being a great advantage, can also be the most difficult aspect of our work. Therefore, someone who works for himself must be relatively responsible and have a certain will.
Of course, we don't know. Then the problem is to overcome such periods with a cool head. Sometimes things are better and sometimes they are worse, but it's good to realize that it's not really the problem.
Photo: Profimedia.cz
illustrative photo
What project have you had the most fun with?
There are many projects like that, because we always try to experiment a lot. It is always a new journey full of discovery for us.
What is the position of Czech design on the world stage?
There are several Czech studios and individuals who are making more of their mark on the world stage, and this is a good and very positive thing. However, Czech design as a whole or as a concept is less prominent. But I do not deny the quality of Czech designers, not at all very good, but we are still very weak in self-presentation.
Photo: Nespresso Archives
Henry Wielgus in the middle of his installation at Designblok this year.
Your last installation at Designblok (international design fair) was a hit on social networks, and won the Best Manufacturing Installation award 2016. What prompted you to create this year's installation?
This year we followed up on a previous Nespresso installation whose main motif was coffee itself. Now we have slightly changed the principle, where visitors do not observe the coffee from a distance, but walk past it. We always work with the visuals and graphics of our installations, and this time is no different.
Photo: Nespresso Archives
The installation also includes a cafe.
What do you do when you're not designing?
Lots of fun stuff. We are both quite active people, so we had a lot of fun.
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