Prof. Holger Matthies
As a rule, competence to create should be the results of educational strategies. This means: expanded education in creative art and theoretical-scientific processes. This was Jan Tomáš’s focus when he studied at the Universität der Künste (University of Arts) in Berlin, and where he graduated from with honors. Anyone who is active in this field is interested in whether such a course of education proves to be useful in practice. If we take a look at the work of Jan Tomáš from this perspective, we discover the following: a brilliant student who became an independent designer with his own style, and who is able to implement his ideas with remarkable craftsmanship. Jan Tomáš is talented: he has ideas, he is able to write, creates forms, he is a do-it-yourself man, a technician and web designer. In addition, he is a designer who through his curiosity and patience attempts to connect individualists to collectivists - and he does so successfully! His intellectual world and the speech of his paintings are original and his technical skills are perfect on almost all levels. In the same way, the uniform processing of designs for SWATCH is typical for Jan Tomáš’s way of thinking and work. A simple "facelift" or re-design does not satisfy him at all. He always creates a new product - in this case a watch. At the moment when he is satisfied with its functionality and design, he begins to search for other options. He then divides the product’s appearance with filigree precision by developing a new font, verbal and pictorial signet on packaging and on the city mobiliary. Jan Tomáš has created a system of coordinates which uses the harmonic resonance of all of the themes in pictures and objects and attunes the recipient to an adventure of hours and time. "It's like a first experience in the world!" This method of consequent analysis and rethinking of the assigned task before its actual implementation is typical of Tomáš’s work. His style also consists of logos and alphabets. Here he creates type images that look fresh, unused, and sometimes even exotic. He who moves in this league understands that strategic planning and presentation of oneself are your ticket to the Holy Grail of the media world. Jan Tomáš has put on the crampons and is on his way to the top.
Prof. Holger Matthies 1.4.2010