Grand Lifetime Achievement Award-Davor Grünwald (in the middle), Andrija Mikulić i Ivana Bakal (Photograph: Morana Matković)

Davor Grünwald received the ULUPUH Grand Lifetime Achievement Award, at the solemn ULUPUH’s Yearly Awards presentation ceremony, held at historic building of Old City Townhall in Zagreb on December 18, 2017. The Association of Artists of Applied Arts of Croatia ( ULUPUH) has given this prestigious Award to Mr. Grunwald for his lifetime artistic work in the field of industrial design which has made creative contributions of outstanding artistic significance to ULUPH.

The Assembly of the City of Zagreb and the president of the Assembly of the City of Zagreb, Mr. Andrija Mikulic took over the patronage of the Award ceremony. The president of ULUPUH’s Art Council, Ms. Visnja Slavica Gabout introduced Grunwald’s opus in slideshow presentation showing his projects realised in Croatia until 1975 and those realised in Canada from 1975 till 2008. The Award was aworded by president of Assembly of the City of Zagreb, Mr. Andria Mikulic and Ms. Ivana Bakal, president of ULUPUH.

It is interesting that Mr.Davor Grunwald, immediately after his graduation from Academy for Applied Arts in Vienna, became member of ULUPUH in 1968, and in year 1969 he already took part in foundation of the section for industrial design within ULUPUH. It enabled him to obtain the freelance status.

I spoke to Mr. Davor Grunwald after his acceptance this significant and deserving Award which makes feel happy and pleased on being rewarded for the creative and professional work that one does. Mr. Davor Grunwald is recipient of many Awards: Award of City of Zagreb 1974, Golden Medal in Leipzig, Canada Design Award 1982 and so on. So I asked him how did he receive the news that he would be presented with ULUPUH’s Grand Lifetime Achievement Award.

Davor Grunwald: “In my acceptance speech I mentioned…”you who came to share with us that sense of achievement which this event brings with it” …The word “achievement”, I associate with my point of view regarding awards in general. During my short period of activities in former Yugoslavia, respectively Croatia, from 1968 to 1975, I received all awards available of that time, including one of SKOJ (Yugoslav Communist Youth Association). My first prestigious Award in Canada has been Canada Design Award, which I received in distant 1982. Since then I have not competed any more for award, despite the fact that I could do it every two years. I have concluded that the traveling and hotel cost too much for my budget. For me it has been more important to take care about my family and my house located in center of Toronto than to gain glory for myself. I have known that for my employers and clients it has been more important my mechanical-constructive works than collections of my industrial design awards. I have refused to take a risk of losing the jobs because of my, as per them, “freakish” attitude. In that kind of situation I recall our proverb: Don’t fight hornet! My instincts have never fooled me! I knew that the “glory” would happen one day when the conditions mature. And now it is just happening!

Colleagues of my generation as well as the younger ones realised the quality and quantity of my professional opus and they just spontaneously lifted me on the lauerat throne. That is why I am very thankful to them for this sense of achievements.”

Davor Grünwald Award Ceremony

Jasna Lovrincevic: “In our conversations before receiving this Award you mentioned that Mr. Ph.D. Goroslav Keller had recommended to ULUPUH’s Art Council your nomination and ULUPUH’s Board of Directors had accepted it. From your Memoirs it is known that Mr. Keller, after your decision to immigrate to Canada, wrote an article, under the title: Why did Davor Grunwald leave? He wrote that working by Calculating Machines Factory in Zagreb, you had possibility to integrate whole your interest in manufacturing industries, your knowledge and talent.

Could you please tell us a bit more about Mr. Keller, about your eventual cooperation with him before you went to Canada! Have you had any contact with him during your stay in Canada and how was looked like your meeting in Zagreb?”

Davor Grunwald: “During my study in Vienna (1964-68) we were in contact. He was husband of my cousin so we knew each other. In that time he already was well known as design theorist and later on he has achieved Ph.D. degree on the same topic. On the other hand, I was and still I am, typical practical designer so we used to complement each other. His article, Why did Grunwald leave, is now classic example of industrial design history in Croatia. In the article he was talking of immaturity of Yugoslav society to accept my approach to design of products which were so important for being competitive in the world market. During my frequent visits to Croatia we sometimes met, talked to each other and went our own ways. For last couple of years he has been the president of ULUPUH’s Industrial Design Section which I established in 1969. Since than we have had more vigorous conversations about what we have accomplished. In September 2017 it was installed beautiful exhibition at Croatian Design Association Gallery (HDD), my guiding trough exhibition and my Monograph promotion. Mr. Keller has participated very actively in discussions through that events. Soon after I returned to Canada, Mr. Keller surprised me by his email informing me that I had been nominated for ULUPUH Grand Lifetime Achievement Award. I thanked him but I did not believe that I would be chosen at the end since there have been many quality members of my generation who deserve that aword. Then the official email from ULUPUH’ Office has come that I have been chosen for main Lauerat for this year (2017). I have not had any doubt; I have traveled for few days to Zagreb to obtain this superb Award in person. It is an opportunity not to be missed!

The experience I obtained through my first workt after my graduation, by the Calculating Machine Factory, as well as my interest in producing industry, my knowledge and talent, all of that have played important role in my professional development in Canada. I have not been afraid of complicated circumstances in different índustries which had not known the meaning of industrial design. I have “educated” them and “forced” them to accept my methods. Trough my constructive – mechanical solutions, which my employers and clients have expected from me, I have “quietly” implemented industrial design elements like: ergonomics, aesthetics, choice of materials and production technologies etc.”

Davor Grünwald

Jasna Lovrincevic: “In our discussions and written exchange before your trip to Zagreb to obtain this Great Award, you addressed the beginning of new activities in Croatia 2015. You mentioned Mr. Boris Ljubicic, graphic designer, who recommanded to Museum of Art and Craft in Zagreb (MUO) to archive your professional opus. Could you please tell more about cooperation with Mr. Ljubicic and how did it came to proposal of archiving your opus?”

Davor Grunwald: “I met Mr. Ljubicic at Third Bienniale of Industrial Design, BIO 3, in Ljubljana, in the beginning of seventies last centuries. Then I received the Awards for my electronic calculators. I have followed the news about his success, as much I could from that distance, from Canada. The news about Mr. Ljubicic success were always prominently displayed in Croatian newspapers. After my retirement 2008, I have developed the digital version of my design presentation. I have sent this to all people I have cared for, among others, to Mr. Ljubicic. Soon after that, Mr.Ljubicic has informed me that he had proposed to Museum of Art and Craft ( MUO) in Zagreb to archive my professional opus. I have come in touch with Koraljka Vlajo, the custodian for design in MUO. That is how my “return” to Croatia has begun.”

Jasna Lovrincevic: “In your Acceptance Speech you have tanked in the name of all winners and also in the name of Mrs. Ana Lendvaj who died 2016. You met her 1988. when she interviewed you for Vecernji list. The interview was published under the titel: Why has fallen the curtain of silence?
It is interesting title, I suppose that the topic was your departure for Canada. Who did initiate that interview since you were in Canada in that time?”

Davor Grunwald: “At that time I already have “made my name” in Canada. I have received the prestigious Canada Design Award for my design of one geophysical instrument and I have designed very successful lines of Fast Ion Deposition Printers for Delphax Corporation. I felt I wanted to „boast“ and to give the message to individuals who prevented me in 1974 in my professional activities, who practically expelled me from former Yugoslavia, respectively Croatia. I went to Croatian daily newspapers Vecernji List office and explained what I wanted. They recommended the journalist Mrs. Lendvaj. She understood why I wished that interview and she wrote the article in that tone.”

The Various Category Winners are Awarded

At the ULUPUH’s Yearly Awards presentation, held on December 18, 2017, besides Davor Grünwald, the various category winners are awarded. Mr. Grunwald was invited to give a acceptance speech in the name of all winners, so in this interview he wanted to mention all significant events in Croatia that preceded to this Aword including people who participated in realization of that events. He believes that those people have contributed to his honoring with Grand Lifetime Achievement Award.

Davor Grunwald: “I would like specially to thank to some people who, with their particular work and their effort, in recent time, have helped to create very positive climate around my designer’s opus that for sure has contributed to this significant Award.

With the recommendation of our distinct graphic designer, Mr. Boris Ljubičić, for archiving my professional opus created in the last half century, by Museum for Arts and Craft (Muzej za umjetnost i obrt in Zagreb), it started my new, vital and inspiring period in Croatia. The beautiful exhibition under the title, Davor Grunwald, Retrorama of Industrial Design 1968-2008 has been organised by Croatian Designer’s Association (HDD). Mr. Marko Golub and Ms. Koraljka Vlajo have been it’s conceptual designers and they have written intelligent accompanying text. The same duo have published my “small” Monograph under the title, Davor Grunwald, Industrial Design, which has been promoted in HDD Gallery. After all, these events have enabled some pleasant encounters, like the meeting with Mr. Goroslav Keller who has suggested my nomination for Lifetime Achievements Award to ULUPUH’s Art Council, which the ULUPUH’s Board of Directors finally have approved. In the eve of the Award Mr. Ljubičić sent me the note: We have not forgotten you!“

Jasna Lovrincevic: “Regarding your exhibition and promotion in Zagreb, in October 2017 you have been asked for many interviews and you have participated in different television programs. What is your impression about that events?”

Davor Grunwald: “Yes, I was impressed with journalists who successfully handled with industrial design, what is far from easy topic. I would like to highlight Ms. Patricija Kiš from Jutarnji list, Željka Laslavić who works for LIDER and Mirjana Zugel Pavličić from Croatian Radio Television.
I met also several young designers who came to me and convinced me with their quality work. They are: Maša Milovac, Morana Matković, Deborah Hustić, Ivan Šantić, Grupa Baluna. From my point of wiew they will be the leading designers of the next generation n Croatia.”

Davor Grünwald Legacy to World Industrial Design

On my last question what would be his legacy to world industrial design, I received the answer related to his theoretical work on industrial design definition. In fact, Davor Grunwald has used to write articles for ICSIDnews Magazine and during the ICSID’s Congress (International Council of Societies of Industrial Design) held at Toronto in 1996, he took part as one of ACIDO’s directors (Association of Canadian industrial Designers). At that time he organized exhibions for his colleagues, industrial designers. He has mentioned that in his Memoirs.

Davor Grunwald: “I published an article in 1995 in ICSIDnews Magazine (4/95), under the title: Design of Products of Limited Production and Distribution. In the article I was insisting that ICSID’s (ICSID – International Council of Societies of Industrial Design) definition of industrial design (ID definition) neglected 70% of world products of small series. Those ID definition contained that only mass produced products were being treated by elements of industrial design. I was the first, 23 year ago, who discovered this colossal mistake and injustice and I insisted that two distinguish groups of products, mass and limited produced, should be mentioned in ICSID’s ID definition. I had a good reason for insisting on that since all my designs products were products of small series. For the first time, since 2015 ICSID title changed into WDO (World Design Organization), my proposals have been accepted. Probably, not based on my article, someone has come to the same conclusion but 20 years later. I have asked the new president of WDO to give me some acknowledgement of my “discovery”. She has refused! But it is one other story.”

Davor Grünwald (Photograph: Morana Matković)

DAVOR GRUNWALD’S ULUPUH’S YERLY AWARDS, ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
December 18, 2017.

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen!

Allow me first to thank in the name of all awarded to Mr. Andrija Mikulic, the president of Assembly of the City of Zagreb and to Mrs. Ivana Bakal, the president of ULUPUH, in my case for Lifetime Achievements Award as well for Awards awarded to my colleagues for their, here presented, more than successful, projects.

This is definitive in the spirit of ULUPUH mission to develop, award and stimulate Croatian applied art.

Thank you, friends and families and all of you who have come here to share with us that sense of achievement which this event brings with it. You helped us, supported us in these creative processes which brought us to this today.

I met Ms. Ana Lendvaj in 1988 when she interviewed me for newspaper Vecernji list and published the article under the title: Why have fallen the curtains of silence? I am immensely happy that I found myself today in her company, unfortunately, posthumously. I am confident that I share this feeling with everyone.

I hope that these Awards and all what preceded it will contribute to better understandings in general to industrial, fashion, exhibits and ceramic design creations and to encouraging of young members. The promotions of honorary members make their artistic maturity to be widely known to the public.

These all will, eventually at the end, reflect in economical, social and cultural development of Croatia.
And at the end I would like once more to thank in the name of awarded to Assembly of the City of Zagreb and ULUPUH for these valuable Awards.

THANK YOU ALL

Davor Grünwald

The Canadian Ambassador to Croatia mr. Danijel Maksymiuk opened the exhibition and in his opening speech he expressed the gratitude to Davor Grunwald for bringing his talent, and new techniques he had learned in Austria and perfected in Zagreb, and shearing them with Canada, his new country.

On September 21, it was organized guiding tour through exhibition by Davor Grunwald who was talking about his project and experiences from Croatia and Canada.

The exhibition was exceptionally well attended, it draw attention of media, TV News and TV Cultural News. Overall it was evaluated as one of the best exhibition in HDD history.

Also, the documentary film has been made in which Davor Grunwald describes each of his design product in details. Marko Golub is the author of the film and Miran Krcadinac is cameramen.

The authors of the exhibition, Marko Golub and Koraljka Vlajo are also the authors of monograph, published under the titel: Davor Grünwald – Industrial Design and presented at HDD Galery on October 11, 2017.

“I am full of nice impressions, anecdotes, before, during and after opening”, said Davor Grünwald in interview we had on October 12, 2017.

The retrospective exhibition in Zagreb and publishing of his monograph are the great acknowledgments for Davor Grunwald who after his graduation from Academy for Applied Arts in Vienna 1968, was active in Croatia until 1975 designing electronic desk calculators for Calculating Machines Factory, machine tools for Prvomajska and chairs for Metal Furniture Factory – Jadran. For his work he received City of Zagreb Award, 1973 and in the same year Golden Medal in Leipzig. Since 1975 he has lived in Canada where he has designed high speed computer printers, diverse geophysical instruments and tractors. In Canada, he received prestigious Canada Design Award, 1982 for design of one geophysical device. Since his retirement in 2008, Davor Grünwald has worked as hobby designer.

Jasna Lovrincevic: “How did it came to realization of the exhibition? What were the first steps and how did the process of setting up the exhibition develop?”
Davor Grunwald: “I have been in touch with Boris Ljubicic, Croatian famous graphic designer, since the end of sixties last centuries. He has known me well and he has followed the news about my profesional life, so three years ago he proposed to Museum of Art and Craft ( MUO) in Zagreb to archive my professional opus, created in the last fifty years. Soon after that, Ms. Koraljka Vlajo, curator at MUO, informed me about this happy news. I immediately started with collecting the materials and to write my memoirs. That work has required a lot of time and discipline. Last year, in April 2016 I brought these materials from Toronto to Zagreb and I gave it to Mr. Gasparovic, the head of MUO. By this occasion it was mentioned the possibility of organizing an exhibtion for me. Acording to the MUO schedule there were no free times in the following five years, and it was told that the Croatian Design Association Gallery (HDD Gallery) could it eventually realized. Mr. Marko Golub, the head of HDD Gallery, accepted enthusiastically that suggestion.

Since I retired in 2008 I have come to Croatia every year in April and return to Canada in October. As soon I came to Croatia in april 2017, Marko Golub and Koraljka Vlajo asked me for a long interview. It held on several occasions, and it was about everything; from my first idea to work as designer when I told to myself “I have to do this” at Italian design exhibition at MUO 1963, my study period at Academy of Applied Arts in Vienna, seven years period designing for Croatian – Yugoslav factories, leaving for Canada, 42 years of living and working in Canada: Montreal, Winnipeg, Toronto, Boston (USA) and activities as retired designer. I described every project in details, circumstances how it came to the projects, the thinking process, how I defined the design directions in the sense of market expectations, ergonomic characteristics, choice of materials, formal shape-aesthetics and choice of production technologies. This conversation has been very stimulating since I have been “forced” to remember great deel of details which have faded away with the time. Until September 2017, we exchanged many emails and I went many times for consultations to the HDD Gallery. I have known that Marko and Koraljka are exceptional writers about design topics. They have confirmed that with their accompanying text about each product presented at my exhibition. I have been especially impressed with Golub’s statement that this has been his best text ever and Koraljka said that this has been her best experience, the most painless cooperation.”

EVERYTHING WAS READY FOR THE OPENING OF EXHIBITION on September 13,2017

Davor Grünwald Retrorama of Industrial Design, 1968 – 2008 (Photograph: Monika Džakić)

Jasna Lovrincevic: “This exhibition is a great acknowledgment for your work, made in Croatia and Canada. Could this exhibition compensate, some of unpleasant moments you experinced in Yugoslav and Canadian periods?”
Davor Grunwald: “Yes, new contacts, beautiful exhibition and great response from public and media are the medicine that heals all wounds, great compensation for all my troubles which I went through. In the middle of seventies last centuries I had blocked the way of someone “above” in former Communist party (in former Yugoslavia), so they canceled all my contracts with my clients-factories. Canadian bad experience did not have political intonation; they were generated by hierarchy of power.”

Jasna Lovrincevic: “Your exhibition has generated positive responses from the Croatian media, how do you feel now?”
Davor Grunwald: “Fantastic! And for media attention you have to have some experience. I was a little bit afraid of that. It turned out just fine, so I told myself: I can do that! I feel totally fulfilled of my life mission. The fear of the question, what next? –disappeared entirely.”

Jasna Lovrincevic: “What do you like most about the exhibition: the exhibition organizers, organization, media response or public interest?”
Davor Grunwald: “If I would evaluate all you listed with numbers from 1 to 10, all of that would recive the number 10! I have already described organizers and organization. I have been surprised how the journalists came prepared with questions on the topics of industrial design which does not come up in news every day. That will remain in my memory as a very nice experience. There were many visitors at the opening celebration. Many asked me if I could recognize them. Fifty years has past and they have changed! Many admitted they did not know what I was doing all these years including some members of my family.”

Davor Grünwald

Jasna Lovrincevic: “Your biography shows your great courage and at first your self confidence. Besides your excellent education and your positive professional experience, obviously there is something more. Talent? Intuition? If you could please tell us more about that?”
Davor Grunwald: I will focus on: “obviously there is something more”, Talent? Intuition? I have developed technique of how to get familiar with the object I have to design. I try to collect all relevant informations. All of them I “deposit” in my mind and let some time to “mature”. I have strong perception; I “see” the pictures of my future designs concepts. Often I get up in the middle of night and sketch down what I “see”. In my case this could be called talent. Intuition always helps me for making important life decisions. For some of them, it takes a long period of time to prove that they have been right decisions.”

Jasna Lovrincevic: “Have you designed something new since our last conversation in March 2016?”
Davor Grunwald: “For the last ten years since I got retired, I have worked under the motto: If I need something, someone would need that too! I have created rack for Porsche Boxster, wine/oil barrel and safety bicycle stick. At the moment I am working on “garage” for bicycles and scoters. People usually use plastic covers which stronger wind can easily destroy. I have made metal construction and have covered it with strong plastic material, made to withstand strong winds.”

Jasna Lovrincevic: “How long have you been the member of Croatian Design Association (HDD), and what is in general your contribution to the Association?”
Davor Grunwald:” I am the member of HDD since its founding 30 years ago. Every year when I come to Zagreb I visit their office, but we have never developed any project together. When my professional opus has been archived by Museum for Art and Craft (MUO), there were the interest from both sides to work together. From that point it started the beautiful exhibition under the title “Davor Grunwald – Retrorama Of Industrial Design 1968 – 2008. I did the guiding tour through the exhibition, explaining all projects and answering the visitors questions. This kind of presentation allowed me to be more relaxed and spontaneous.
The promotion of my monograph in October 11, 2017 was not planned for that time and Marko Golub and Koraljka Vlajo, “Dream Team” of HDD surprised me with it and made me very happy.”

Jasna Lovrincevic: “In documentary movie, your first and famous design, under the name Sculptra, has been presented. The scenes with Sculptra, all in white, look very elegant. Who has been responsible for that visual aspects?”
Davor Grunwald: “I brought two items of Sculptra to be hanged on the wall. The cameraman came to make the movie. Spontaneously I put the Sculptra on pedestals, I turn them in such way that surface showed the most of contrast between the illuminated and in shade portions. I suggested that I should be surrounded by Sculptras because in my written materials I am claiming that Sculptra is my three-dimensional emblem. So it could be said that I am the author of this scene.”

Promotion of Davor Grunwald Monograph – Davor Grunwald Industrial Design (Photo- Leko)

Jasna Lovrincevic: “You are living on two continents! This is also very interesting. Could you tell us something about that?”
Davor Grunwald: “We come almost every summer, for short periods to Croatia. Since we got retired in 2008 we stay for six months every year, from April to October. We are traveling through Croatia visiting the places we have never seen before. Winters we spend with our children and grandchildren in Toronto.
Next year 2018 the “Zagreb” exhibition will be moved to Split, expanded with my designs I created after I got retired 2008.”

DAVOR GRUNWALD’S WELCOME SPEECH

At the opening of the exhibition Davor Grunwald Retrorama of Industrial Design, 1968 – 2008, Davor Grunwald addressed the guests with welcome speech which we are presenting here by his permission.

Good evening!

Ms Masa Milovac, President of Croatian Design Association, Your Excellency the Ambassador
of Canada, Mr. Daniel Maksymiuk and His Assistants, Dear colleagues, friends and members of my family:

It is a great pleasure to welcome all of you to this exhibition.

The highlight of my personal and professional life is happening here right now! Thank you all for coming to share this overwhelming feeling of accomplishment. In my memoirs which will be soon published in my monograph, I have written that it was not a straight success. Failures, disappointments were often part of my professinal way. The bottom line is what counts and this Exhibition has proved that it is worth to be stubborn and follow the guiding light.

Thank you Canada for accepting me and giving me a chance to nurture my talents I was born with!
Thank you Croatian Ministry of Culture and City of Zagreb for your sponsorship.
Thank you HDD’s “Dream Team”: Koraljka Vlajo, Marko Golub, Barbara Blasin, Miran Krcadinac, Ksenija Zakula and Monika Dzakic for your extraordinary efforts to set up this Exhibition.

Thank you!