Business / design
The Croatian Design Exhibition
About the exhibition
The best way to introduce yourself to the latest in design production in Croatia is by viewing it at the biannual Croatian Design Exhibition. This year, the exhibition is virtual thanks to well known global circumstances which, ironically, makes it the most accessible it has ever been. In this article, we give you a short overview of the awarded projects and designs.
This year two categories in the student competition didn’t get recognition; The Integrated Project/Product had only one project enter the exhibition, and in The Packaging Design Category only two projects entered the exhibition.
Since 1999, every two years, Croatian Designer Association creates an open call to the Croatian designers to showcase their recent works, followed by a big exhibition of the winning projects.
Designers are applying as professional or student in 8 categories: visual communication design, design and digital media/interactive design, packaging design, product and industrial design, spatial and graphic interventions and systems, fashion and clothing design, integrated project/product and concept/initiative/critical design.
The jury selected 247 professional and 47 student works to represent the Croatian design production.
19/20
This year, the most popular category was, as always, visual communication design, followed by design interventions in space and package design. The jury consisted of seven Croatian and two international designers: Sanja Bachrach Krištofić, Karlo Kazinoti, Željko Serdarević, Svjetlana Despot, Marko Pavlović, Lea Vene, Vedran Židanik from Croatia; Bojan Hadžihalilović, a graphic designer from Bosnia and Herzegovina and John L. Walters, Editor in Chief and co-owner of the Eye magazine from the UK.
While visual communication design production in Croatia is traditionally most represented, we are especially fond of the fact that interventions in space are the second best, because it means that Croatian businesses started to acknowledge the importance of design and visual communication in the world around us.
The Croatian Designer Association Lifetime Achievement Award went to the industrial designer Blaženka Kučinac, for the furniture design and systems that she designed throughout her professional career, mostly for the Mobilia Ivo Marinković furniture factory in Osijek.
The Grand Prix went to the project MADE IN Crafts and Design Narratives under the creative direction of the art collective Oaza. The international jury chose this project for its quality, complexity and strong message. The other two nominated projects were City pools Pula-Pola by Tumpić/Prenc Studio and Omoguru – dyslexia-friendly reader by Petar Reić, Marko Hrastovec and associates.
Professional category awards
Visual Communication Design
Ana Ofak: Agents of Abstraction
Design: Rafaela Dražić
Client: Ana Ofak / Sternberg Press, Berlin
09/2019

Special recognition went to:
25 FPS Festival
Design: Andro Giunio
Client: Association 25 FPS, Zagreb
09/2018

Nike Air Type
Studio: Hot Type
Design: Marko Hrastovec
Creative Direction: Nemanja Jelička
Client: Nike Inc., Beaverton, USA
11/2019

Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb – Season 2018/2019
Studio: NJI3
Design: Tessa Bachrach Krištofić, Dina Milovčić, Franka Tretinjak
Client: Croatian National Theatre in Zagreb
10/2018

MADE IN: Crafts — Design Narratives
Studio: OAZA
Design and Layout: Ivana Borovnjak, Maša Poljanec and associates
Non-client work
02/2020

Design and Digital Media/Interaction Design
The Great Croatian Naives
Agency: Señor
Creative Direction and Copywriting: Vanja Blumenšajn, Jurica Ćorluka
Art Direction and Design: Damir Mazinjanin, Alen Lipuš
UX/UI Design: Miro Čavar
Design: Mišel Kovačić
Account Direction: Danijela Maričević
Junior Account Executive: Anamarija Vuić
Strategy Direction: Iva Kaligarić
Client: Croatian Academic and Research Network – CARNET, Zagreb
03/2019

Special recognition went to:
TalentLyft
Studio: Bien design
Design: Ivan Bjelajac, Mihael Miklošić, Matija Jandrić, Silvia Marinčić
Project Management: Anja Grgić
Client: TalentLyft, Zagreb
09/2019

Design Islands
Agency: Infinum with Associates
Design: Mario Kovačević, Marina Jukić, Vita Vrebac, Nikolina Fuzul, Ana Valjak, Renato Mandić, André Ferreira (motion designer), Luka Reicher, Luka Štedul, Emanuel Miličević, David Kampić, Elizabeta Lončar, Matej Maltar
Illustration: Ivana Bugarinović
JavaScript Programming: Vedran Serenčeš, Matej Janjić, Tihomir Selak, JS developer
WordPress Programming: Gabriel Glogoški
UX Strategist: Ante Pelivan
Non-client work
11/2019

Packaging Design
Farina
Agency: Size
Art Direction and Design: Jurica Koletić
Creative Direction and Copywriting: Andrej Virant Sadiković
Brand Strategy: Ivan Fistrić
Client: Granolio, Zagreb
12/2019

Special recognition went to:
Pietro & Pietro
Studio: Octopus Ink
Creative Direction: Miran Tomičić
Product Design: Sanja Rotter
Associates: Darko Franjić (carpentry, Močvarni hrast), Markek (cardboard), Vanja Šolin, Dejan Hren (Photography)
Client: Natura Tartufi, Buzet
02/2019

Product and Industrial Design
Igram
Studio: Grupa
Design: Filip Despot, Ivana Pavić, Tihana Taraba
Non-client work
02/2020

Special recognition went to:
Mobili – Multifunkcionalni pult
Studio: Idearium
Design and Production: Franka Baranović, Antonio Šunjerga
Client: Šibenik Univerisity
06/2020

Soft Metal
Design: Filip Havranek, Kristina Lugonja
Client: Bertol Metal, Velika Mlaka
05/2019
Spatial and Graphics Interventions and Systems
City pools Pula-Pola
Studio: Tumpić/Prenc
Creative and Art Direction: Anselmo Tumpić
Account Director: Sara Prenc Opačić
Graphic Design: Anton Licul Grk
Client: Pula Sport
05/2019

Special recognition went to:
Salona Archaeological Zone Signage
Concept and Design: Bojan Sivački
Design: Lana Vitas Gruić
Client: City of Solin
09/2019

Lokrum – Botanical garden
Studio: Šesnić&Turković
Design: Marko Šesnić, Goran Turković, Andrea Sužnjević
Architecture: Roman Šilje, Milan Štrbac, Tihana Vučić (Normala)
Associate: Katarina Ivanišin (Illustration)
Client: Reserve Lokrum
05/2020

Fashion and Clothing Design
Sentiment 2
Design and Concept: Nataša Mihaljčišin
Associates: Marija Milin (photography), Milena Maršić (hair), Saša Joković (make up), Eva Ljubić (model)
Non-client work
10/2019

Integrated Project/Product
SAL⊥
Studio: Leskovar studio
Design: Vlatka Leskovar Zidar
Creative Direction: Ivan Zidar
Non-client work
08/2019

MADE IN Crafts and Design Narratives
Creative Direction: OAZA
Visual Identity: Ivana Borovnjak, Maja Kolar
Exhibition Catalogue: Ivana Borovnjak, Maša Poljanec
Exhibition Design: Nina Bačun, Roberta Bratović, Maja Kolar, Tina Ivezić, Josipa Tadić (design); Darko Franjić – Marsh Oak, Damir Debeljak (execution)
Website: Ivana Borovnjak, Maja Kolar (design); Tomislav Modrić (web development)
Organisation and Production: Muzej za umjetnost i obrt, Umjetnička organizacija Oaza (HR); Muzej za arhitekturo in oblikovanje (SI); Nova iskra, Mikser (RS); Werkraum Bregenzerwald (AU)
Program Direction: Koraljka Vlajo, Dunja Nekić (MUO); Ivana Borovnjak, Maja Kolar (Oaza); Maja Vardjan, Cvetka Požar, Nikola Pongrac (MAO); Thomas Geisler, Miriam Kathrein (Werkraum Bregenzerwald); Relja Bobić (Nova iskra); Maja Lalić (Mikser)
Curatorial Concept: Ivana Borovnjak, Maja Kolar, Koraljka Vlajo (HR); Maja Vardjan, Cvetka Požar (SI); Thomas Geisler, Miriam Kathrein (AU); Relja Bobić (RS)
Client: MADE IN Platform for Contemporary Crafts—Design Production
02/2020

Special recognition went to:
Milla&Milli
Studio: Maša Vukmanović Creative Studio
Art Direction/Graphic Design/Stand Design: Maša Vukmanović
Furniture Design: Maša Vukmanović, Jelena Lukač Kirš, Jakov Šrajer
Creative and Communication Strategy and Brand Positioning, Copywriting and Tagline: Kitica Kekić
Art Direction of the TV ad: Vlado Perić
Associates: RED Studio (TV ad production), Damir Žižić (ad photography), Domagoj Kunić, Marija Gašparović (product photography), Andreja Lovreković (product design), magicmarinac (web programming)
Client: Milla&Milli, Vrbovec
06/2020

Concept/Initiative/Critical Design
Omoguru – Dyslexia-Friendly Reader
Concept, website and widget design: OmoLab komunikacije
Typography: Marko Hrastovec
Associates: Augustin Gattin (widget project management), Amir Kos (widget development), Locastic (mobile app development), Ingemark (Chrome plugin development)
Non-client work
04/2020

Special recognition went to:
Humanitarian Initiative Vukovar Gimnasium
Agency: Brigada
Associates: Alen Lipuš, Ana Kovačić, Bratislav Milenković, Bruketa&Žinić&Grey, Filip Peraić, Ian Trajlov, Imelda Ramović, Ivana Štrukelj, Jelena Bando, Ljubica Đorđević, Marko Samardžija, Monika Lang, Nebojša Cvetković, Señor, Slaven Lunar, Vedran Klemens, Vizkultura – Anta Bučević, Jelena Perišić, Bratislav Milenković, Benussi & the Fish (Illustration)
Contractor: Basileus
12/2019

V magazine
Initiative and Production: Association Vizkultura
Concept, editorial board and creative direction: Bosnić+Dorotić
Design: NJI3 (Tessa Bachrach Krištofić, Dina Milovčić i Franka Tretinjak) with associates
Non-client work
04/2019

Student category awards
Visual Communication Design
Human means Human + Riah (Crotian: Čovjek znači čovjek + Riah)
Design: Neva Marija Zidić
Faculty: School of Design, Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb
Mentors: Tomislav Vlainić, Marija Juza (Human means Human), Nikola Đurek (Riah)
Co-mentor: Veljko Žvan (Human means Human)
Assistant: Marko Hrastovec (Riah)
2018/19

Special recognition:
Niki Mill
Design: Tana Jeić
Faculty: School of Design, Universitity of Architecture, University of Zagreb
Mentor: Nikola Đurek
Assistant: Marko Hrastovec
2018/19

Design and Digital Media – Interaction Design
The Place of Springs Application (Croatian: Mjesto izvora)
Design: Tomislav Mravičić
Faculty: The Design of Visual Communication Department, The Academy of Arts Split
Mentor: Jelena Zanchi
Co-mentors: Ivica Mitrović, Oleg Šuran
2019/20

Special recognition went to:
Ctrl-Shift — Browser Extension
Design: Elizabeta Lončar
Faculty: School of Design, Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb
Mentors: Romana Kajp, Marija Juza, Emil Flatz
2018/19

3D Visualisation is Science
Design: Josip Perić
Faculty: The Design of Visual Communication Department, The Academy of Arts Split
Mentor: Maris Cilić
2019/20

Packaging Design
Special recognition went to:
San Servolo
Design: Tina Božan
Faculty: The Design of Visual Communication Department, The Academy of Arts Split
Mentors: Igor Čaljkušić, Nikola Đurek
Assistant: Ana Bodrožić
2019/20

Product and Industrial Design
Gasi (eng. Extinguish) – fire protection system
Design: Erika Filipan
Faculty: School of Design, Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb
Mentor: Mladen Orešić
2018/19

Special recognition went to:
Arhiviranje okusa – Okus priča (eng. Archiving the taste – A taste of stories)
Design: Paula Šantić
Faculty: School of Design, Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb
Mentor: Andrea Hercog
2018/19
Fashion and Clothing Design
[HIDDEN]3
Design: Mihaela Brajković
Faculty: Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb
Mentor: Jasminka Končić
Assistant: Duje Kodžoman
2019

Special recognition went to:
Modul
Design: Alison Ivašić
Faculty: Faculty of Textile Technology, University of Zagreb
Mentor: Jasminka Končić
Assistant: Duje Kodžoman
2019/20

Concept / Initiative / Critical Design
Terapino
Design: Nikola Heged
Faculty: School of Design, Faculty of Architecture, University of Zagreb
Mentor: Romana Kajp
Assistant: Emil Flatz, Inja Kavurić Kireta, Ana Marija Španić
2019/20

The website for the virtual exhibition was made by Marina Jukić (design) and Emanuel Blagonić (web development), the visual identity was designed by Tina Ivezić and Matija Ferlin and the exhibition design was made by Tina Ivezić and Maja Kolar.
All 35 awarded projects are exhibited in the Museum of Arts and Crafts (MUO) in Zagreb, until the 5th of December. And, if you want to learn more about presented projects or see all this year’s entries, we invite you to go to izlozba.dizajn.hr/1920/ and discover more about the projects and designers behind them.
To see the exhibition go to the: https://izlozba.dizajn.hr/1920/