Design of the Future

On 19 March, the Design of the Future conference was held in Hradec Králové, organized by the Centre for Investment, Development and Innovation (CIRI).The topic was the role of design in responsible business, the circular economy and concrete examples of sustainability in corporate practice.

The programme also included an exhibition of student work from the SUPŠ of Musical Instruments and Furniture in Hradec Králové, focusing on design with a focus on upcycling.

And what key ideas did we write down in our notebooks?

GREEN0METER

Lukáš Kalvoda from Green0metergave a fundamental perspective on sustainability from an economic and business point of view .

He focused on ESG as a key factor not only for legislative compliance, but above all for the long-term competitiveness of companies.

Many companies perceive ESG as a regulatory obligation, but the reality is different. Companies that implement sustainable strategies are more stable, less vulnerable to economic shocks and more attractive to investors and customers.
Sustainable strategies are not just about reducing emissions, but about better risk management and overall long-term stability.
Carbon footprint as a competitive advantage – If a company keeps data on its carbon footprint and works with a large client, the client demands this data. But it’s not just about the calculation itself, it’s about the overall data – energy, materials, waste. If the firm has these areas under control, it can build on this with other processes. The result is a competitive advantage.

„Sustainability is woven into all levels of processes – and it’s not just about the environment but also the social level, the management level. Basically, sustainability is in us, in our businesses and in our actions,“ says Lukáš Kalvoda, Green0Meter.

BOMMA

The conference was also attended by Zuzana Kozlová from Bomma, a Czech leader in hand-blown glass and an innovative approach to design. Her presentation showed how craft tradition can be combined with modern technology and sustainable processes.

Bomma’s glass production combines automated processes with hand-blowing, which allows for efficient material use and waste reduction.
The glass industry is one of the most energy-intensive sectors. Bomma is therefore looking for ways to optimise its energy consumption and reduce the carbon footprint of its production.
Residual glass as a raw material. Bomma is increasingly working with it, minimising its waste and moving closer to a circular production model.

„The craft of glassmaking has a huge tradition, but if we want to preserve it, we need to give it contemporary content – to combine handmade with innovation, sustainability and a new audience,“ said Zuzana Kozlova, Bomma.

Plastia

The next speaker was Monika Šimonová from Plastia, a Czech company focused on sustainable growing, composting and organic production. Plastia shows that plastic doesn’t have to be a problem- if you work smart with it. It minimises waste, incorporates circular design principles and creates products with a long life.

Plastia’s development begins with thorough research and analysis of user needs. Ideas are not developed from the desk, but tested directly on customers.
The company uses a design thinking method that emphasizes empathy, functionality and innovation.
The „Turn the pot“ project, allows customers to return old pots back to the shops. Plastia then recycles them and makes new products from them – closing the material loop in practice.

„Waste is not a problem for us – it’s a resource. And every material that passes through our hands we try to reuse,“ says Monika Šimonová, Plastia s.r.o.

Balance is Motion

Eliška Knotková from Balance is motion brought a crucial insight into where eco-design is heading – not only in terms of innovation, but also new legislation.

Up to 80% of the environmental impact of products is determined at the design stage. The responsibility for sustainability therefore lies primarily with the designers.
Every product will need to have clearly traceable provenance of materials used and information on recycling options.

„Sustainability is not a fixed state, but a constant process of balancing and decision-making. That’s why our studio is called Balance is Motion – because we seek a balance between function, aesthetics and ecological impact,“ said Eliška Knotková, Balance is Motion

Plastic Guys

At the end of the conference, Vít Gilánikintroduced Plastic Guys. The company specializes in innovative plastic recycling. Their goal is not only to minimize plastic waste, but also to transform it into a high-quality and aesthetic material that is equal to the most luxurious ones – and they find applications in architecture, interior design and public space.

They work with single-component materials that can be recycled up to seven times – creating a truly closed material cycle.
They specialise in bespoke manufacturing. They allow customers to use plastic waste directly from their operations and turn it into furniture or architectural elements, for example.
They use no dyes, adhesives or additives, making their materials fully recyclable.

„Plastic doesn’t have to be just unsightly waste. We can turn it into functional and aesthetic materials that last and have high use value,“ says Vít Gilánik, Plastic Guys

The conference confirmed that sustainability is no longer a fringe topic or the preserve of select industries.

It affects everyone – from manufacturers to designers, from large companies to small workshops.

It was evident from every contribution that change comes where sustainability stops being talked about as an obligation – and starts being thought of as an opportunity. An opportunity to do things differently, smarter and more responsibly.

We left with a notebook full of ideas – and with confirmation that our work has a place in the debate about the future of design.

Thank you for following us. And if any of the examples caught your eye, drop us a line. We’d love to discuss it more – perhaps over a cup of coffee.

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