Krakow

Last week we flew to Krakow, Poland, with Stockport College Design Department, where we had arranged visits to local design studios for first and second year students. For some students, this was their first time stepping foot inside a working design studio.

Not knowing any Krakow based designers, we had asked around for recommendations before the trip and Mill Studio, Para Studio and Balsam Studio were the ones everyone was talking about, with great work ranging from arts-based to more commercial. All three kindly agreed to have us round to hear more about their work, favourite projects, studio structure and Polish design culture (and of course, to have a good old nosy around their handsome studios whilst there).

In conversation, we discovered that in Poland, graphic design is learned on Industrial Design degree courses, so the students begin by building chairs, tables, lamps and so on, progressing to graphic design later. Also, Masters degrees are compulsory. Both of these things seemed to give the studios we met a unique approach to design and the students came away from the visits thinking about their own education and approach to design.

This is us (above) squeezing into a group shot at Mill Studio.

We’d like to thank all the designers we met for giving up their time and welcoming us into their studios for the afternoon.