Mentees of the design START mentoring programme were given the opportunity to rethink their operations with industry experts

The online workshops of the second design START mentoring programme have come to an end, and with their completion, the five designers selected by a professional jury were able to expand their knowledge with forward-looking business expertise. All participants of the mentoring programme have positively assessed the past few months of joint work, and are ready to achieve their goals along with the guidelines they have learnt throughout the mentoring programme. The internships will also be starting soon, during which the participants can get to know the various processes of domestic manufacturers.

In July, the design START series of workshops were completed and were implemented online due to the virus situation. The six-stage training focused on the business knowledge needed to stabilize businesses. The mentees selected for the programme - Edina Andrási, Sára Kele, Kerekes Furniture, Apol Temesi and László Tompa - worked together with their mentors to build the vision of their brand. Thanks to the presentations and one-to-one meetings, the participants were able to rethink the operations of their business with the help of experts, they created a SWOT analysis, conducted market research and talked over possible financing opportunities and legal issues. In addition, they were able to refine their brand pricing, positioning, and online and offline communication strategy.

At the closing event of the workshops, the participants all praised the sessions they had taken part in, including their speakers. Design brands have experienced recent months as a a major self-assessment process, through which they were able to find their strengths, as well as identifying areas for improvement. According to the mentees, the mentors were able to shed new light on their activities up to present. Several designers have re-evaluated their previous approach and decided to pursue their ideas along a completely new line of thought. Thanks to the guidance and instructions provided by the mentors, the values ​​that make the designers and their products unique and distinguishable in the market were outlined for everyone. From workshop to workshop, the designers were able to realise new contexts, and it became clear to them that in order for a brand to be successful, it’s necessary to not only focus on design and production but to also have a knowledge of the aspects of PR, marketing, sales, financial planning and law in their operations.

Internships in domestic factories will begin soon, during which the mentees will be able to gain insight into the entire value chain and learn about processes that require a joint thinking process with manufacturers.