Design LAB program kicks off with a famous Italian curator in 2023

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) launches its incubation program facilitating cooperation between designers and manufacturers again in 2023. This year, the focus will be on the intersection of traditions and innovation: this time, the Agency realises the program in collaboration with an outstanding figure of international contemporary design, Rossana Orlandi. Applications for the Hungarian design LAB curated by Rossana Orlandi are open since the 16^th of April.

The design LAB incubational program’s primary goal is to facilitate collaboration between sector players, producers and designers, and strengthen and modernise the domestic manufacturing background. Thanks to the program, talented designers’ plans can meet professional manufacturers, and they can create unique products together along the lines of creativity, spontaneity and versatility.

The program held for the fourth time gains increasing recognition each year among Hungarian creative professionals. In the past years, many successful collaborations resulted in dozens of competitive and innovative products which stand their ground in the domestic and international markets as well. After closing the program, the HFDA continues to pay accentuated attention to the development of the duos; its main goal is to expand Hungarian industry actors’ possibilities, increase the sector’s competitiveness, and incentivise exports.

“In our operation at the HFDA, we continuously monitor professional changes, market trends and needs to provide the most optimal support to industry players. We redesigned our design LAB program with this in mind this year; we would like to provide even wider visibility and export possibilities for the collaborating duos, for which, an international approach is indispensable. In the fourth design LAB, we will have professional help in this: the program will be realised featuring a legendary figure of contemporary international product design, Rossana Orlandi” commented Anita Forintos-Szűcs on the design LAB program. The HFDA’s Deputy General Managing Director added: “In my view, the collaboration is not only an honour but also appreciative feedback to the Agency’s work, the talented domestic industry players’ products, and the Hungarian design industry as well.’

Rossana Orlandi will fulfil a curatorial role throughout the whole duration of the program, aiding the chosen designer-manufacturer pairs with her professional support as well as assisting the implementation processes. Thanks to her professional experience, plans, and, at the end of the program, products will be made, which may raise the attention of consumers used to Italian functionality and quality as well. Therefore, the HFDA’s program returns with a new title: Hungarian design LAB curated by Rossana Orlandi. During the program, preserving Hungarian culture and traditions will be of pivotal importance at the same time as meeting international standards.

“Similar international collaborations constitute an important pillar of the Agency’s work. The strategic partnership formed with Rossana Orlandi supports our goal of turning Hungary into a determining design centre in the region. The collaboration helps our cultural heritage to connect to the international contemporary design flow through the designers’ works, thus further strengthening our country’s national image in front of the broadest public” emphasised the strategic importance of the collaboration Zsófia Jakab, CEO.

The fourth design LAB brings changes in the processes of application and selection as well; this year, designers have to take the first step and submit their ideas to the call for applications published on the 16^th of April. The entries will be evaluated by a curatorial team led by Rossana Orlandi. Interested manufacturers can find the chosen plans on the HFDA’s website and contact the designers who fit their profile the most and whom they consider the most interesting. In the second phase of the program, the designer-manufacturer duos jointly submit their materials with the implementation plan.

You can find the designers’ call for applications, submitting entries, and other information at the following link.

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About Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency was founded in 2018 to support every actor in the fashion and design industry

in an efficient and structured way, following predetermined strategic pillars: professional coordination, enhancing Hungarian brands’ availability and trade opportunities, educational development and manufacturing development. To realise its goals, the HFDA organises domestic events each year, such as the region’s major fashion event, the Budapest

Central European Fashion Week, or the 360 Design Budapest exhibition, which has received international awards. Besides, they provide Hungarian creators opportunities for participation and debuting at international professional events such as the Milano Fashion Week. Strategic cooperation with professional organisations, increasing export, and

supporting Hungarian brands’ professional development with mentoring programmes are among their accentuated