Design Thinking: KLIMCHI

(Image courtesy of KLIMCHI. The image depicts FELICITY, design by František Jungvirt for KLIMCHI s.r.o., glass, blown, crackle structure, 2021)

In Graduate School, one of the buzzwords professors love to discuss is “Design Thinking.” Design Thinking is an iterative process in which we seek to understand the user, challenge assumptions, and redefine problems to identify alternative strategies and solutions that might not be instantly apparent with our initial level of understanding (Dam and Siang). Design Thinking enables a company to understand consumer needs to serve their audience better. For this project, I contacted different companies to learn how organizations apply Design Thinking and spoke to Marketa Kunclova, Marketing Specialist at KLIMCHI, to learn more about the company.

(Image courtesy of KLIMCHI. The image depicts 11 DRAMA VASES, Vinohradské theatre - Prague, designed by František Jungvirt for KLIMCHI s.r.o., glass, blown, optical decor, 2021)

1. What makes KLIMCHI different from other brands?

We are not interested in saving time through commercial machine manufacture. We believe that the time we spend with each piece and the years of knowledge invested into every curve tells a deeper story. In order to handcraft a piece of KLIMCHI glassware, our glassblowers can take up to 3 days from start to finish, using the techniques carried down the generations. Also, other glass companies will usually spray the glass with colour after the blowing, but instead our craftsmen blend the colour pigments into the melting process, embedding the colour deep within the glass itself. The difference in the finished glassware is evident in KLIMCHI’s signature use of rich and effervescent shades.

(Image courtesy of KLIMCHI.)

2. Where does KLIMCHI draw inspiration from during its design process?

Since 2020, new collections have been created under the guidance of our creative director Frantisek Jungvirt. He is pushing KLIMCHI’s designs to rediscover and popularise techniques that have been forgotten. As a designer, he finds inspiration in modernist architecture and the natural world around him. By incorporating elements of nature into his designs, he's able to create work that is both visually stunning and emotionally resonant. He believes that there's something inherently beautiful about the natural world, and by bringing those elements into KLIMCHI's designs, he's able to create a connection with an audience that goes beyond mere aesthetics.

(Image courtesy of KLIMCHI.)

3. How do you incorporate KLIMCHI's mission and vision into your product offerings?

Our mission is to create beautiful glassware for the moments in life we want to hold onto. The breath-taking. The heartbreaking. The astonishing. The beautiful. Our handblown glassware becomes a part of one's life journey. We create products that become treasured members of our customer's households and can be cherished for generations. When thinking about our product offerings, we always have versatility in mind so that our pitchers can be used for both refreshing beverages and arranging stunning floral displays. Likewise, our candle holders can be repurposed as planters once the candle has been enjoyed. With each new design, we also want to push the boundaries of glassmaking and preserve the tradition and quality of Bohemian glass.

(Image courtesy of KLIMCHI.)

4. What is the future of the company?

As for the near future, we are currently preparing the launch of our three new collections, LINEA, CRUST, and ROYAL MARIKA, and working on the digitalization of our company. In June, we will be showcasing our products at the Exclusively fair in London, and in September, we are coming to Maison&Objet with a wish to get our products more into luxury design projects. Thinking long-term, we would love to become a leading tabletop glassware brand in the Czech Republic and, one day, in the world. Our team believes that anything is possible if there's passion and hard work.

(Image courtesy of KLIMCHI.)