On Wednesday the 6th November The Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art of the University of West Bohemia (Sutnarka) in Pilsen, The Czech Republic, presented the Ladislav Sutnar Prize to Prof. Penny Macbeth, Director of The Glasgow School of Art, American designer Debbie Millman, and the Japanese periodical IDEA Magazine. The GSA joins previous exceptional individuals and institutions who have been presented the award to honour their significantly influence on world art and design. Previous recipients include University of Applied Arts Vienna, graphic designer Neville Brody, Swedish National Centre for Architecture and Design, Kunst Akademie Düsseldorf, sculptor and artist Magdalena Jetelová and the The J. Paul Getty Trust.
Through the Ladislav Sutnar Award, Sutnarka pays tribute to the life and work of Pilsen native and internationally recognised Czech-American designer Ladislav Sutnar. At the same time, the faculty recognises exceptional Czech and foreign artists, educators and institutions, and acknowledges their extraordinary works, especially in the field of applied art and design. The Ladislav Sutnar award is closely linked to the development of the faculty and is intertwined with its strategy, which reflects not only current goals, but also a response to world events and contemporary societal challenges.
“It is an honour to accept the Ladislav Stutar Prize on behalf of The Glasgow School of Art. This award recognises our achievements in visual art, applied art, design and education. As fellow institutions we share a dedication to creative practice that addresses contemporary challenges with socially beneficial and innovative solutions.” says Prof Penny Macbeth, director of The Glasgow School of Art.
Prof. Penny Macbeth’s Laureate presentation speech at the Ladislav Sutnar Prize meet & greet can be viewed HERE.
“As we collectively push boundaries within our thinking and practice, fostering new ideas and embracing innovation, while maintaining a sustainable and equitable approach across craft, analogue, virtual and data driven technologies, we always look forward yet value and celebrate our past.”
“Laureates of the Ladislav Sutnar Award have always represented the absolute pinnacle of personalities or institutions in a certain area of design and applied art. A glance at the list of awardees is enough for everyone to understand that this is a completely extraordinary and elite selection. Among the awardees this year are two foreign institutions – Glasgow School of Art and IDEA Magazine.” says Vojtěch Aubrecht, dean of the Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art,
“Through the Ladislav Sutnar Award, we declare our affiliation with the highest global values and the individuals and institutions that represent them, at the same time, we strive to strengthen mutual relationships and build bridges. In the case of the Glasgow School of Art, one of the most important art schools in the world, it may indeed be a matter of confirming a common orientation and accelerating existing collaboration.”
For further information please contact press@gsa.ac.uk
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The Glasgow School of Art
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA) is internationally recognised as one of Europe’s leading independent university-level institutions for education and research in the visual creative disciplines. Our studio-based, specialist, practice-led teaching, learning and research draw talented individuals with a shared passion for visual culture and creative production from all over the world.
Originally founded in 1845 as one of the first Government Schools of Design, the School’s history can be traced back to 1753 and the establishment of the Foulis Academy delivering a European-style art education. Today, the GSA is an international community of over 3500 students and staff across architecture, design, digital, fine art and innovation in our campuses in Glasgow and Altyre (in the Scottish Highlands) and a thriving Open Studio programme delivering non-degree provision to over 1500 students annually.
The Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art of the University of West Bohemia
The Ladislav Sutnar Faculty of Design and Art, also called ‘Sutnarka’ or ‘Sutnar Faculty’ for short, is a modern art school whose students, under the guidance of a number of important artists and designers, earn their Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in a wide range of fields focused mainly on design and applied art. It is located in an original building with state-of-the-art equipment and a number of unique studios. The faculty features a team of important art figures and renowned designers with experience from the private sector, under whose leadership students achieve significant success in Czech and international competitions, implement projects in cooperation with professional and international partners, and participate in a number of exhibition projects.
In addition to classic art disciplines, the Sutnar Faculty, following the example of renowned foreign schools, focuses on new trends and integrates the field of design with new technologies and research results with the aim of delivering socially beneficial and innovative solutions that respond to the challenges of the contemporary world. The Sutnar Faculty, as part of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, offers students unique opportunities for cooperation with other UWB faculties and research centres in order to find multidisciplinary and integrated solutions, under the guidance of experienced teachers, engineers, and scientists. With its activities and philosophy, the faculty continues the inspiring legacy of an important Pilsen native and internationally recognised Czech-American designer and visionary, Ladislav Sutnar.
Ladislav Sutnar
Born in 1897 in Plzeň, Ladislav Sutnar was a Czech-born influential graphic designer who laid the groundwork for modern information graphics through designs inspired by the avant-garde visual languages of Constructivism and the German Bauhaus movement.
Sutnar believed in the importance of functionality, simplicity, and clarity in design. He is widely known for his innovative use of grids, tabs, and symbols to organise information in a visual hierarchy. Sutnar’s work often featured bold colours, photomontage and asymmetrical typography, geometric shapes, and clean lines, which helped to create a sense of order and structure in his designs. In addition to his work as a graphic designer, Sutnar was also a prolific author and educator, writing several books on design theory and practice whilst teaching at various universities in Europe and the United States – most famously in his 1961 book and exhibition Ladislav Sutnar: Visual Design in Action.
Sutnar created a lasting legacy of groundbreaking design work which continues to inspire and influence designers around the world, and he is considered to be one of the pioneers of information design.
