Karel Kobosil

The book was published to mark the first anniversary of the death of the Czech designer and long-standing director of the Design Centre of the Czech Republic, Karel Kobosil (1945-2012). Karel Kobosil is known to the professional community as the founder and director of the Design Centre of the Czech Republic, based in Brno (1991-2007), which he developed into a major hub for design activity. He also played a key role in raising the profile and improving the quality of design courses at Czech universities; for example, he was instrumental in establishing the Industrial Design course at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Brno University of Technology. He was himself a distinctive creator and designer, with a number of awards to his name. He created a range of industrial products, designed original objects and lighting fixtures made of glass, metal and plastics, organised exhibitions of Czech design both at home and abroad, and produced several television and radio series on design. The aim of the book’s authors, led by Jana Novotná, was to use this publication to celebrate Karel Kobosil not only as a talented designer, director and organiser of various social activities associated with the Design Centre of the Czech Republic, but also as a wonderful companion, storyteller and friend. In addition to factual texts concerning Kobosil’s work and the running of the Designcentrum ČR, the book primarily includes many memories and testimonials from his colleagues, collaborators, friends and family members, as well as photographs bearing witness to a life well lived.