Bratislava will once again become the center of contemporary design this year. Slovakia’s largest international design festival, Bratislava Design Week 2024, will occur from October 16 to 20.
This marks the 15th edition, with the main venues being OD Prior at Kamenné námestie and the Mirbach Palace at the Gallery of the City of Bratislava. Additional festival locations will be spread throughout the Old Town. This year’s theme is “Relationships,” which the festival explores in various forms and connections through diverse design projects. Relationships can be apparent or hidden, but they always play a crucial role in a person’s life—they define, change, educate, and propel us forward.
Main Venue at OD Prior:
The main international curated exhibition will be held at OD Prior, featuring a selection of existing works as well as pieces created specifically for BADW under the curatorial direction of Damian Cehlárik. The star of the exhibition is the Italian studio Parasite 2.0, which has prepared a main staged installation inspired by Bratislava’s Istropolis and its mysterious history and demise. The activist organization Social Label from the Netherlands will present its approach to the theme of social design. Guests include the Czech studio Jansky Dundera, and BADW will also host a meeting with the young Prague footwear brand Pár and designer Julien Chaintreau (CH). Tin Ayala from Ecuador will present a performance on the topic of decolonization, while Sonia Górecka will focus on Slavic myths and their relation to contemporary nationalism. The Austrian multidisciplinary group Eclect will experiment with sound and space in relation to innocence and error.
Second Venue at the Gallery of the City of Bratislava:
At the GMB, the exhibition “Expedition D” will showcase a selection of current Slovak design works and collaborations in various material and conceptual forms (Sylvia Jokelová and Jana Hojstričová, Vnem, Erik Vrábel, Erika Remencova and Ioko, Sylvia Sukopová and Otakar Sukop, Lucia Židek Gamanová, Martin Jurík, and others). In the “Masters of Slovak Design” edition, BADW pays tribute to the work of the bard of Slovak design, Karol Weisslechner, and furniture designer Ondrej Čverha. The curator of the exhibitions at GMB is Ľubica Hustá.
Festival Program:
Exhibitions Open to the Public:
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
- 13:00 Design Lunch: Parasite 02 – Performance Cloud
How a cloud forms. A rapid, monumental, and ephemeral performance by the multidisciplinary architectural studio Parasite 02.
Location: Kamenné námestie near the cornerstone of Prior - 17:00 Vernissage of the National Prize for Communication Design
Location: Hurbanove kasárne, 2nd floor, Kollárove námestie 10
During BADW, the exhibition “Transmodernity/Loma” will also be available at the Design Gallery Satellite. - 18:00 – 20:00 Design Dinner x Talks
Presentations of design projects by Pár (CZ), Julien Chaintreau (CH), Sonia Górecka (PL), Jan Christian Schulz (DE).
Main Speaker: Parasite 2.0 (IT)
Location: Prior, 2nd floor
Thursday, October 17, 2024
- 13:00 Lenka Ingeliová: Neplecha – Outdoor Installation
Presentation of the project and sound performance.
Location: Exterior Bohéma, Prior, Kamenné námestie - 16:00 Pralátka by Peter Stanický
Guided tour and discussion.
Location: Český dom, Gallery, Prepoštská 6 - 16:00 Guided Tour of the “Expedition D” Exhibition
Discussion with Prof. Karol Weisslechner.
Edition: Masters of BADW
Location: GMB, Mirbach Palace, Františkánske námestie 11 - 17:00 Peter Liška: Ne/Automatic Patterns
Location: Kút Shop, Museum of the City of Bratislava courtyard, Radničná 1 - 20:00 Launch of Viktor Tabiš’s New Collection: Vase – Christmas Ornaments
Location: Space Object, Palisády 23
Friday, October 18, 2024
- 17:00 Mindset
Live podcast with Rector Bohunka Koklesová from VŠVU and designer Damián Cehlárik.
Location: Main HQ OD Prior, 2nd floor - 17:00 – 20:00 Speed Design Dates
Quick dating at the exhibition, password: grapefruit.
Location: Main HQ, 2nd floor - 17:30 The Influence of Digital Technologies on the Human Brain
Lecture by Czech neurologist Martin Jan Stránský.
Scientific insights from recent research and its impacts on society and civilization.
Location: Gallery of the Czech Center, Český dom, Prepoštská 6 - 20:00 Freedom, Culture, Strike
Graphic support for resistance tribute.
Light performance, Partner: Open Culture.
Location: Prior, Kamenné námestie, exterior - 22:00 Design Night Fever
DJs Macrosoft (AT), Cereál (CZ), DJ D.K.O.
DJ Macrosoft (AT) is a member of the multimedia design studio Eclect from Vienna, Partner: Austrian Cultural Forum.
Location: Bohéma, Kamenné námestie
Saturday, October 19, 2024
- 16:00 Guided Tour of Kamenné námestie
Focus on the architecture of OD Prior, led by architectural historian Monika Bočková.
Location: Meet at the bell play area of OD Prior
Registration at badw.sk - 17:00 – 21:00 Speed Design Dates
Quick dating at the exhibition, password: grapefruit.
Location: Prior, 2nd floor - 17:00 Workshop by Viktoria Kaslik (HU)
An ephemeral workshop by the designer and judge, simulating a reform of the judicial system in collaboration with the audience.
Location: Prior, 2nd floor - 18:00 Musa x Denisa Slavkovská Open Atelier
Location: Tobrucká 1, Bratislava - 18:00 Performance by Tin Ayala (Ecuador)
Location: Prior, 2nd floor - 18:30 BADW Awards 2024
Announcement of winners – best designer, collection, discovery of BADW.
Location: Prior, 2nd floor - 19:00 Concert by SJU (SK)
A new name in the Slovak and Czech music scene, featuring playful and danceable electronic music, colorful visuals, costumes, and projections.
Location: Prior, 2nd floor - 22:00 After Design Night
DJ Osi, To.bi, Mishak.
Location: Bohéma, Kamenné námestie
Sunday, October 20, 2024
- 15:00 Sunday After Lunch
Social Design Workshop – no registration required.
What does it mean to be a social designer?
Location: Prior, 2nd floor - 16:00 Design Cinema
Guided tour with Vladimíra Hradecká.
Location: Prior, 2nd floor - 17:00 – 21:00 Speed Design Dates
Quick dating at the exhibition, password: grapefruit.
Location: Prior, 2nd floor