From designing toys to creating the visual style for the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, Zuzana Lednická has explored many facets of design work and has even won several awards for her efforts. She currently co-leads the Najbrt studio, and when she’s not working on socially beneficial projects—such as those for people with Alzheimer’s disease—she returns to her roots and creates books or festivals for children.

Architect Petr Hájek also has a new connection to Karlovy Vary: he is the designer of the new concert hall, which is an extension of the Neo-Renaissance spa complex. In addition to his design work, this innovator has previously ventured into the world of literature by providing the inspiration for Miloš Urban’s 2015 book Urbo Kune. The story is set in a utopian city designed by Hájek’s students. Petr Hájek also teaches at the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) in the Hájek–Hulín studio.