Milan Design Week - Budapest Select Exhibition - A VVoven View

Press Contact: CAMRON Global, hfda@camronglobal.com

About the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency was established in 2018, with the aim of providing structured and efficient professional assistance to all players in the fashion and design industries. One of its main missions is to increase export while developing domestic manufacturing and traditional creative industries. As an integrative organization, the HFDA aims to promote cooperation and knowledge sharing between the players in the fashion and design industry both in Hungary and the region, which is the key to long-term success.

About Budapest Select

The Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency, considering the best international practices, created the Budapest Select umbrella brand so that Hungarian products can be more easily identified abroad. The brand aims to provide greater visibility for domestic brands during international appearances through strong and unified communication while retaining individual characteristics as well. In the longrun, the goal of Budapest Select is to position Hungarian creatives to a high international level of recognition.

Budapest Select Exhibition

A VVoven View

CURATORIAL CONCEPT:

The Budapest Select – A VVoven View showcases the multifaceted creativity of Hungarian design. Organised by the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA), the exhibition introduces the international audience to Hungary’s finest designers, as well as its most visionary industrial and visual artists. This year’s presentation responds sensitively to contemporary challenges, offering both thought-provoking and innovative solutions.

Structured around three core themes — traditional craftsmanship and material use, digital technologies, and their fusion— the exhibition highlights the evolving dialogue between heritage and innovation. A striking visual element, floating white paper sheets, symbolises limitless creative potential. These blank pages come to life through a collaboration between designers and artificial intelligence, where AI functions not just as a tool but as a creative partner. Yet, as emphasised by the threads running through the exhibition, the final decisions and ultimate forms remain firmly in human hands.

The term "vvoven" speaks to more than craftsmanship – it embodies the interweaving of perspectives, technologies, and cultural influences. The works of 24 Hungarian designers converge to form a dynamic new fabric, balancing experimentation with deep respect for tradition. By exploring the intersection of heritage and innovation in the age of AI, Budapest Select fosters dialogue while offering a glimpse into the present of Central European object culture and the evolving future of human creativity.

CURATORS:

Angéla Góg DLA

As a designer and curator, Angéla Góg DLA’s work is defined by the narrative and emotional roles of materials, forms, and experiences, since she is particularly fascinated by emotional connections, storytelling, and the layered nature of experiences in design. She has completed her studies in object and industrial design, and for over a decade, her primary focus has been food design. Her doctoral research explored the connection between dining and memory, believing that design is not only functional but also a cultural and sensory medium. As a curator, her goal is to create exhibitions that spark dialogue and open new perspectives on the relationship between materials and experiences. Her diverse experience in design, research, and education enables her to approach artistic and design processes in a complex way, placing them within a deeper cultural context.

Barna Erdész

Barna Erdész graduated from the Budapest University of Technology and Economics with a degree in industrial product and design engineering. He owes his artistic foundation to his father, László Erdész, design has always been a part of his life. From the very beginning, he was fascinated by catalyzing processes, project management, and integrating new technologies. Throughout his career, he has gained experience at event designer companies in Hungary and in the Middle East, working as an organizer, art director, and later as a design team leader. He has participated in prestigious international events such as Bocuse d’Or, CeBIT Hannover, Shanghai Import & Export Expo, Global Education & Skills Forum, and the Global Teacher Prize in Dubai. Three years ago, Barna Erdész founded his own contemporary gallery, with a strong focus on young Hungarian artists and collectible design as an art form.

ARCHITECT:

URBA

URBA is an architecture and interior design studio with offices in Budapest and Vienna. Their dynamic team of five experienced architects, interior, and graphic designers specializes in residential, hospitality, and service industries. They approach each project with a deep respect for its context, embracing responsible, thoughtful design choices in materials and construction techniques. Guided by the transformative power of simplicity, they craft clean, contemporary spaces enriched with custom design elements and carefully selected collectible pieces. Through ongoing collaborations with independent makers, URBA brings an interdisciplinary vision to every project.