Planets Mini: The Complete Aesthetic of Counterweights, Cables, and Light

3 Questions for Roman Vrtiška

Q: In the collaboration between Brokis and Vrtiška & Žák, what do you see as the key to successful cooperation between a brand and designers, and how do you complement each other in this process?

We see this mainly in the designer’s empathetic approach to the issues of the brand, portfolio, production and sales. Together, these aspects can create a commercially successful product and we as designers must not ignore or ignore them. It is a complex point of view reflected in the style of the work and its result. Of course, the manufacturer must also work with design in this spirit. Targeted and high-quality promotion, targeting target groups, opening new sales channels and live communication on social networks. Brokis and I are lucky enough to have been collaborating for the last two years on, among other things, the appearance of the stands at the Milan fair. Our intervention in the Brokis brand image is therefore much more complex than purely designing products.

“Our ancestors were able to do things better than us many times, but today’s society is so technocratically introspective that it ignores the qualities defined by the past.”

Q:The system of counterweights and pulleys is both functional and poetic. All elements — lights, weights, and cables — are part of a complete aesthetic whole. Where did the idea come from, and how did it evolve into the final solution?

It’s very simple – we try to be as open as possible in our work to follow proven historical models / methods. Our ancestors were able to do things better than us many times, but today’s society is so technocratically introspective that it ignores the qualities defined by the past. It is a mistake that we try to indirectly point out in our work by rehabilitating proven and functional models and putting them in a contemporary position, improving them and giving them a contemporary and timeless aesthetic.

Q: Expanding a collection is often a sign of success. What does the arrival of Planets MINI mean for the original line, and how do you decide whether to expand an existing collection or create something completely new?

A: Mini Planets are essentially a response to the market’s call for a smaller version of the original Planets. Customers really like them, but due to their size, which was primarily intended for larger spaces, there were frequent problems with space. Customers wanted larger sets, which often did not fit into their residential projects. The idea was born to reduce the entire collection and create a more affordable version, both in scale and price.

About Planets Mini

The Planets family of lights is expanding with a new collection called Planets MINI, bringing the same elegance and versatility as the original collection but in a more compact form. The reduced size allows for larger compositions even in standard interiors with lower ceilings or less floor space.

Planets MINI retain the unique system of counterweights and pulleys, enabling effortless height adjustment and flexible arrangements, from single pendants to compositions featuring up to twelve lights. The counterweights are precisely calibrated to the mass of each light, ensuring smooth and secure adjustments. The fixtures are equipped with a round LED panel beneath a matte glass diffuser, which conceals the internal components while preserving the silhouette of the light. Matte metal elements and monochrome textile cables emphasize the collection’s clean lines and cohesive aesthetic.

Available in the elementary geometric shapes of sphere, cone, and capsule, Planets MINI come in three elegant glass finishes: smoky grey matte, triplex opal matte, and smoke brown matte. This variety offers endless possibilities for creative compositions and adaptable lighting solutions for diverse spaces.

With their smaller scale, Planets MINI can be effortlessly installed where the original version might not be suitable, creating a refined and inviting atmosphere in any intimate interior.

Roman Vrtiška and Vladimír Žák met while studying at the Academy of Fine Arts, where they began their collaboration. Together, they also completed an internship at Alvar Aalto University in Helsinki, where their work was awarded several times. After graduating, they became part of the emerging fresh generation of Czech designers characterized by a wide range of interests and a professional approach to work.Since then, they have been among the sought-after and respected creators. The founders of the Prague studio Vrtiška & Žák, with more than a decade of tradition, are united by diligence, a desire to overcome challenges and the ability to see potential even where it remains hidden to others. Their work covers a complex of areas from product design to interiors and architecture, from craftsmanship to industrial scale. Creativity and unconventional thinking are essential values for the development of their work.design. Since 2016, they have been leading the Furniture and Interior Design Studio (D2) at the Academy of Fine Arts, Prague. In 2020 they became the artistic directors of the Ravak brand and since 2024 they have been the official artistic directors of the legendary bent furniture brand Ton. Their clients include brands such as: Adidas, Avast, Brokis, Heineken, Javorina, Moravian Glassworks Květná, KKCG, Klier, Kooperativa, Krušovice, Lasvit, mmcité, Polstrin Ravak, Rim, Ruukki, SanSwiss, Tereza Maxová, Todus, Teroforma, U1, USSPA, Zásilkovna, White & Case, and others…

Brokis is a Czech premium lighting brand that fuses contemporary design with the craftsmanship of Bohemian glassblowers. With its own Janštejn Glassworks, active since 1809, the company runs large-scale in house production and keeps innovating in handblown glass, revived hotshop techniques and proprietary colours. The portfolio spans modern functional fixtures, decorative objects and bespoke solutions for architects and interior designers, often combining glass with wood or manually pressed metal.