The HFDA’s second design START mentoring programme provides professional development support to five design companies

The second design START mentoring programme launched by the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) provided professional support for emerging design brands in redesigning their businesses, and for brands wanting to succeed domestically, however, who are first in need of support to gain stability in Hungary. The designers participating in the mentoring programme reported on prestigious awards, international magazine appearances, and outstanding accolades, and in the case of several manufacturer-design pairs, their joint work continued even after the two-week internship had finished. The application process for the following mentoring programme started towards the end of the second design START mentoring programme. 

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) set up its mentoring programme with the aim of transferring the business knowledge needed to stabilize design companies - to emerging designers - in cases where their high-quality creations are also suitable to display at international trade fairs. Five promising designers with unique concepts were selected by the professional jury from the applicants taking part, as follows: Edina Andrási, who creates porcelain products and lighting objects, Sára Kele, known for her sustainable furniture, Kerekes Furniture, a manufacturer of joinery products, Temesi Apol, who works with modular acoustic tiles, and László Tompa, famous for his woodturning products. The five selected designers worked together with their professional mentors on building their brand vision.

In light of the virus situation, the first step of the training programme took place online in the form of workshops. The topics discussed in the workshops also reflected on the new challenges that occurred due to the changing economic situation. The main focus of the six-step training programme was on strengthening entrepreneurial attitude and acquiring the business knowledge needed to stabilize design brands in Hungary. During the presentations and one-to-one meetings, the participants were able to rethink their business operations with the help of design theory experts and together with well-regarded professionals, who have already built businesses successfully, as well as being key figures in the design sector. The HFDA considers it important to continuously expand its professional partnerships, as it is thanks to this, that designers will have access to a wide knowledge base and network of professional contacts that can support and promote their entry into the international market. The second step in completing the design START mentoring programme was taking part in an internship, during which the designers were able to gain a comprehensive picture of the entire production and sales process within the workshops of NezozeN, Balaton Bútor, FabLab Budapest, iamart and LumoConcept. In the domestic factory of their choice, the mentees were able to learn about digital design and manufacturing processes, as well as the logistics process within the manufactory. The outcome of several internships resulted in continued future collaborations, decided by the manufacturer-designer pairs themselves.  As a result of the virus situation, the pre-planned study trip had to be cancelled, however, as an extra event of the mentoring programme, the designers were given the opportunity to consult with Marcell Tóth, an online marketing expert, regarding online and digital sales and marketing solutions in the changed economic situation. Additionally, several mentees also had the opportunity to exhibit their works at the 360 ​​Design Budapest event, organized within the framework of Budapest Design Week. The participants of mentoring programme described the workshops as interactive, as well as attitude shaping with a focus on business planning, legal, and communication presentations. The mentees also mentioned how the mentors shed new light on their activities so far, and thanks to the instructions they provided, everyone was able to outline the values ​​that make them unique and distinctive in the market. The two-week internship was considered as one of the most useful elements of the programme by the designers.

“Each and every brand participating in the mentoring programme represents outstanding professional standards, and this was also reflected in their achievements in 2020. Awards, international magazine appearances, and other accolades were reported on after their completion of the programme. The success of the mentees perfectly illustrates the importance of the programme, as brands that gained domestic stability after completing the mentoring programme are able to focus on achieving their future goals with full dedication.” - stated Zsófia Bata-Jakab, CEO of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency. Applications open for the latest design START mentoring programme

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency established the design START mentoring programme with the aim of transferring the business knowledge needed to enable Hungarian design companies to stabilize their businesses.

The designers selected by the professional jury are talented creators who will be able to become both nationally and internationally recognized brands after the completion of the mentoring programme. Participation in the mentoring programme is conditional on taking part in an open selection process and having at least 2 product families.  Legal and natural persons can also apply for the programme, further information is available via the following link: https://hfda.hu/hu/cikkek/palyazati-felhivas-feltorekv-designmarkak-szamara-2158 

The application deadline has been extended, applications can now be submitted until midnight on 21.02.2021.