Designers in Seoul
Designers in Tokyo
Designers in Taipei
Column Four

signage, wayfinding, web design
The co-founder and partner in Studio Otwarte. I am responsible for client communications and project management. I contribute to the creative process, although I am not a designer.
Unit8, City of Rybnik, City of Racibórz, Ringer Axel Springer, Jewish Culture Festival, Ludowy Theater
3x 2024 Golden Pin Design Award Mark Winner, Red dot, 2x European design awards, 2x Type Directors Club Awards, Polish Project of the Year, Polish Team of the year 2020, 11x Polish Graphic Design Award, 9x Ad Creators Club (Poland)

As someone who studied design at a university in Korea, I’ve observed that there are a vast number of design schools in the country. Considering Korea's population size, the number of design graduates is quite substantial. I find this to be an interesting fact when it comes to understanding the Korean design scene.

People from other countries might not know that the design culture in Poland is deeply rooted in both tradition and innovation. The iconic Polish School of Poster, which emerged in the mid-20th century, remains influential, known for its unique blend of surrealism, symbolism, and minimalism. Another lesser-known aspect is the role of graphic design. While Polish posters have gained international recognition, graphic design, including elements like logos, packaging, and printed materials, has only recently been rediscovered and appreciated. Polish graphic design icons such as Karol Śliwka, Jerzy Treutler, and Roman Duszek are behind these influential works.

Poland's design culture is deeply rooted in its rich history and traditions, blending modern aesthetics with folk art. One aspect that people from other countries might not know is the strong influence of Polish Poster Art, which emerged in the mid-20th century and is characterized by its unique combination of simplicity, bold colors, and surreal elements. Additionally, Polish designers often draw inspiration from the country's turbulent history and diverse architecture, creating works that are both innovative and reflective of Poland's cultural heritage.

While the most known and celebrated inspirations from the Polish graphic design history is the 1950-80s Polish School of Posters, there is also a less known history of great logo design and typography, which we only started discovering recently. Nowadays Poland has amazing and internationally renowned designers in different fields - illustration, branding, typography and more. The community of professionals - individual designers and studios - is strong and friendly, we learn from each other and give each other advice, but also consciously build market standards together.