Studio Najbrt, founded in 1994 by Aleš Najbrt, has steadily grown from a cultural sector-focused design studio into one of the most recognized names in Czech graphic design.
Initially, the studio’s work focused on collaborations with cultural institutions and the creation of new brands, slowly expanding its scope. The studio’s unique design philosophy combines functionality, ease of understanding, and an element of humor, often drawing from Aleš’s background in Prague theatre groups.
Looking to the future, Studio Najbrt is committed to continuous learning and embracing new technologies while staying true to its mission of creating meaningful and purposeful design solutions. This interview was conducted in collaboration with Website Planet.
What inspired you to establish Studio Najbrt in 1994, and how has the studio evolved since its inception?
Shortly before founding the studio, I ended up working as an art director at Reflex magazine, which was founded shortly after the Velvet Revolution in 1990. After three years in the editorial office, I felt that I wanted to continue on my own and founded my own studio with a graphic designer from Reflex.
There, we initially worked mainly for clients and friends from the cultural sector and gradually started working in the field of new brands and corporate design. The studio expanded slowly. We were not in too much of a hurry.
Your studio emphasizes creating designs that are functional, easy to understand, and fun. How do you balance these elements in your projects?
I think that in the early 1980s, I was influenced by my membership in several Prague theatre groups, where humour and irony were an important part of the resistance to the communist regime.
These activities and our work in culture have always influenced our work, including creating new brands for large partners and cities. But it also works the other way around, precisely in terms of the functionality and success of our work.
Studio Najbrt has collaborated with various cultural institutions and events, such as the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. How do these collaborations influence your design approach?
I have already talked about it a little in the previous answer – it influences us a lot. Just like the work for the Czech Philharmonic, the National Gallery or Kunsthalle Prague.
We also often make film and theatre posters, music media, and book design for architects and artists.
With a diverse portfolio ranging from visual identities to motion design, how does your team adapt to the unique demands of each project?
I think it is important that in the studio, there are older and younger designers who have different specializations, and we help each other on different projects.
Of course, our work has also changed to some extent with the arrival of new areas and spaces for graphic work.
Humor and surprise are mentioned as aspects of your work. Can you share an example where these elements played a crucial role in a design solution?
Humour can be used occasionally. I think a good example is some of the posters for the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. For example, the one where the main character is a somewhat clueless film projector played in a festival trailer by British actor Eddie Marsan.
For the main poster, we used his photo where he is scratching his head helplessly, and other motifs are just ordinary objects such as rolls toasted in a projector, a dry plant living miserably in his windowless room losing its dry leaves, or a stuffed cat that falls on his head.
We sometimes work with surprises intentionally when we change our approach to the solution, when the viewer expects something completely different based on their previous experience.
Looking ahead, what are your aspirations for Studio Najbrt in the evolving landscape of graphic design?
We want to do quality work, constantly learn new approaches and technologies. Do not stay in one place – do work that helps something and is functional and accurate for a specific assignment. We simply want to do meaningful tasks.
Find out more at: www.najbrt.cz
Luka, a skilled individual from Serbia, set aside his aspirations of becoming a Web Designer but discovered a fresh passion for content writing. With a keen interest in IT-related domains, encompassing Web Design and UI-UX Design, Luka is now delighted to express his thoughts on his favorite subjects. His proficiency in these areas positions him as an excellent source for those seeking valuable insights into the realm of technology.
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