<div>Union of Graphic Design Defends Itself: We Care About Fair Business</div>

The Union of Graphic Design (UGD) protests against the implications of the article “The Antimonopoly Office Suspects Graphic Studios of a Cartel,” which was published on the Archiweb server on April 4, 2008, as sourced material from ČTK. The spokesperson for the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) Kristián Chalupa presents false information and thereby damages the good name of the Union of Graphic Design.

Chalupa accuses several associations, including UGD, of issuing a price list with recommended prices, which he claims may hinder the development of competition. However, UGD has never issued any price list. In fact, ÚOHS has only raised vague accusations regarding several points of the Code, to which members voluntarily express their moral stance on the graphic design field. In a letter sent to the Union, ÚOHS states: “This action by UGD may, according to the Office's findings, at the very least, be capable of disrupting competition in the field of graphic design services and some related fields.” UGD members feel harmed by this statement; however, they have no choice but to wait for the outcome of the administrative proceedings.

The Union of Graphic Design was formed as a civic association of graphic designers who believe that good graphic design, as a significant part of everyday life, can contribute not only to its improvement but also to increasing the competitiveness of Czech products and services in the global market. Therefore, the primary goal of UGD is to explain to the public the importance of graphic design through articles and lectures, ultimately contributing to a higher quality of design.

Membership in UGD is primarily an expression of a moral stance. Members strive to gain prestige for the field, which is common in developed countries. They are willing to invest in the development of the field without it bringing them profits and advantages. For this reason, UGD members view the accusations from ÚOHS as unfounded.

“Our goal is education and transparency; we do not want to disrupt competition in any way. We are primarily concerned with fair business,” says Milan Sládek, chairman of the civic association Union of Graphic Design.

Given how little attention graphic design receives in Czech media, despite the fact that everyone encounters the results of designers’ work daily and it impacts their lives for better or worse, we offer you the opportunity to explain in more detail the meaning and goals of UGD in an interview with some of our members, thereby initiating a discussion about the meaning of design for society at the beginning of the 21st century.