Adrienn Király and Bálint Szalai own itthon. studio where they preserve local values and craftsmanship of a small underpopulated town Ada situated in Serbia about fifty kilometres from the Hungarian border. Two product designers manage to support artisans who continue to live and work in the area despite the challenging economic and social affairs caused by the Yugoslav Wars. The studio gathers natives who create long-lasting everyday products—made from local, natural materials—that meet the needs of every household. The crafted objects echo the natural beauty of the landscapes and the peasants’ culture. For instance, the first collection included hand-cut wooden plates, cane pots, and clay cookware. Adrienn and Bálint also praise the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural identity of the land. They never hide people behind the objects but name every one of the makers who produce them. Very often, to create one product, itthon. joins several workshops together, which helps to tighten the community.
“Together with the craftsmen, we try to maintain the town’s heritage as well as liven up local workshops so that we bond as a community that works for the common benefit. On the behalf of itthon. studio, we contact small-scale and low-technology industries that possess know-how and expertise to create objects that would open new market opportunities. Nevertheless, the financial stability is a vital issue; we also try to impact the mood of the locals and rediscover their potential born in the infrastructure during the Yugoslav era.”
-
itthon. studio -
itthon. studio -
itthon. studio -
itthon. studio
Contemporary Lynx is a proud media partner of Łódź Design Festival 2021. We have been publishing a series of articles on innovative and talented designers who have been finalists of the make me! 2021 – an international design contest for young designers at the Łódź Design Festival.
