Sofia Design Festival

Everyone knows about the constitution — the most important written document defining the relationship between the state and its citizens. But a few reach for it in order to get acquainted with the laws. Printed editions of the constitution can be found in most bookstores, hidden in a niche section and formatted in an illegible and unattractive way — with a concise font and narrow lines.

Not if you take the new editions of the Slovak and the Czech ones. Titled respectively — "The Illustrated Constitution of the Slovak Republic" and "The Illustrated Constitution of the Czech Republic" — they arе not only useful and easy to relate by kids and adults alike, but also aesthetically pleasing pieces of art. With the help of attractive illustrations and excellent graphic design, they make people aware about the most important ideas and principles of democracy and human rights, about the rules that make a country a good place to live.

The exhibition presents the successful experience of two creative teams into transforming the constitution into a more relatable document.

The author behind the concept is Slovak publisher Adam Berka (82 Bøok & Design Shõp), with illustrator Andrej Kolenčík and graphic designer Boris Meluš. The book was among the finalists of the Slovak design prize. The same project was also launched in the Czech Republic by publishing house Take Take Take. The layout is the work of graphic designer Nikola Klímová / Janíčková, and the drawings are created by illustrator Jindřich Janíček. The latter received the accolade "Illustrator of the Year" at the Czech Grand Design awards in 2018 and the book took the 2nd place in the Professional Literature Category: The Most Beautiful Czech Book of the Year. Further into the future, there is a plan to publish illustrated constitutions in other European countries.

The exhibition is realised thanks to the joint contribution of the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Sofia and the Czech Centre in Sofia.