Idea. Form. Function. Design and Industry in Poland 1888-1939

Curator: Michał Łukasik
Organizer: Institute of Industrial Design

Industrial design is a field that combines science, art, and technology, aiming to create functional, aesthetic, and innovative products. Much had happened before Wanda Telakowska founded the Institute of Industrial Design. This exhibition is one of the events organized as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Institute of Industrial Design. It presents pioneering thoughts and ideas from the years 1888-1939 that revolutionized the way we think about design, such as combining beauty with functionality, researching ergonomics, and building public awareness of aesthetics. Many artists, architects, professors, and numerous groups contributed to this effort: the Kraków Workshops, the ŁAD Artists’ Cooperative, the BLOK group, and Praesens.

Polish design from 1918-1939 was a fascinating period combining tradition with modernity, functionality with aesthetics, and art with technology. „We want to show how designers of that period boldly created new concepts that influenced contemporary design,” says Michał Łukasik, curator of the exhibition.

The exhibition presents key ideas and pioneering solutions that revolutionized design thinking in Poland. Visitors will be able to view unique photographs and original exhibits, including furniture by Stanisław Witkiewicz, Jan Kurzątkowski’s „Piórko” chair, silverware by Julia Keilowa, and porcelain from Ćmielów. The exhibition also highlights the role of artists and creative groups such as the Kraków Workshops, the ŁAD Artists’ Cooperative, the BLOK group, and Praesens.