CGD

Master & Master have become a mark of quality and success on the Czech scene. The company owned by Ondřej Zita and Luděk Šteigl has been on the market for over a decade – this in itself would make them stand out, but, even more importantly, both owners are able to consistently develop new products and collaborate with up-and-coming designers as well as household names. They have also been looking to expand their operations abroad. 

After winning the Producer of the Year award at last year’s Czech Grand Design Awards, they were prime candidates for a nomination this year. This was due to the high quality of their individual products as well as the bold and visionary approach they bring to the often sleepy world of Czech furniture design. We can mention this year’s collaborations with the duo of Terezie Lexová and Štěpán Smetana, as well as with Klára Šumová. They have also expanded their portfolio for small items such as the wall-mounted hook whose accessibility and aesthetic qualities showcase Master & Master’s inspiring approach to design – their goal is not to produce inaccessible and expensive solitaire pieces but rather to offer affordable products for the general public. 

This year, Ondřej Zita and Luděk Šteigl notably collaborated with the Mjölk architekti studio by developing the simple, practical and sturdy table Mjölk had designed a few years ago into a serial product. This particular piece also references their beginnings when they used Michal Malášek’s idea and started producing metal legs for a table that soon became their iconic product. Their collaboration with Mjölk proves that an open mind is the foundation of Master & Master. No door remains closed to them, no idea is too far-fetched. They try to consciously meld courage with rationality while never forgetting to be creative. These three ingredients are fundamental for making high-quality design anywhere in the world. Master & Master know this, and this approach lies at the core of their success.

Veronika Pařízková

In today’s circumstances, the ability to produce an affordable product with exceptional aesthetic qualities is a real challenge. Producers in the furniture segment have for a long time been struggling with rising material costs and their inaccessibility, as well as being threatened by competition in the form of international wholesalers. Bringing to market an idea which would attract the customer both in form and price has become ever more difficult. But a few years ago, the duo of Ondřej Zita and Luděk Šteigl decided to accept this challenge – and what’s more, they succeeded! Their portfolio now offers not only the favorite metal table legs – which were their first product – but also a diverse range of solitaire items and everyday interior accessories. Their strength consists mostly in simple, timeless design and their ability to read contemporary trends.

The Oasis table made by Jiří Pelcl for Master & Master is an example of the genius interconnection between affective and effective design. This unusually direct piece develops the favorite flower tables made by Jindřich Halabala, while updating them for 21st century taste. The producer also showed a similar level of inventiveness in the design presentation of the Log armchair and sofa, also designed by Pelcl, whose ambitious imagination kicked in and prompted him to work directly, and using only basic geometries. The result is a strong, confident solitaire piece ideal for both public and private spaces. This is also the case of another project: the personable yet subtle SAD table. Its light legs are reminiscent of the brand’s early beginnings, but the stylish tabletop now feels much more robust.

Much like with many other products from their segment, the “Masters” offer their customers variability and diverse materials, which also means they offer a wide range of prices. Their decision to supply the market not only with elite pieces but also with affordable and accessible products makes this Šumperk-based brand a company to watch out for, cherish and respect.

Veronika Pařízková