Hungarian Design and Art Displayed in Italy’s Number-One Museum During Milan Design Week

The international audience had the opportunity to see objects by 13 domestic design brands and artists between the 15^th and the 21^st of April 2024, organised by the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) at the Triennale Milano Museum during Milan Design Week. The curator of the Design Walk in Budapest exhibition, the world-famous Rossana Orlandi, called to life a concept focusing on the capital’s rich cultural heritage. The public had the chance to view the products realised during the design LAB curated by Rossana Orlandi program for the first time in the exhibition, accompanied by works of contemporary artists under the Budapest Select umbrella brand. The exhibition presenting a vibrant cross-section of Hungarian culture was included in the top recommendations of renowned trade magazines, further piquing international curiosity.

The four main pillars of the HFDA’s strategy include raising the profile of domestic designers and helping them enter foreign markets; in this spirit, the Agency assists brands by featuring them in international design fairs and exhibitions. In 2024, the exhibition placing Hungarian design in the centre appeared in the prestigious Triennale Milano Museum in an individual exhibition during one of the largest annual design events of the world, Milan Design Week.

After Brera and Alcova, this exhibition is a milestone since the iconic venue is an important institution of Italian design and art. The displaying design brands created their products during the design LAB program with the mentorship of Rossana Orlandi. The designers were inspired by Hungarian cultural heritage, and some of them drew inspiration from the capital for the collaboration with the manufacturers. It was this common trait on which the world-famous curator built and brought to life a spectacular concept. Design Walk in Budapest celebrated the creative ambience of Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, cradled by the Danube as a nexus of cultural fusion, showcasing its architectural and design heritage through a contemporary lens. The exhibition emphasised the city's unique atmosphere, which preserves its multifaceted historical traditions while embracing modernity. Based on the curatorial concept, in addition to design products, contemporary Hungarian fine art, sculptures, paintings and photographs completed the atmosphere of the exhibition space.

Crowds from all around the world flocked to Milan Design Week, an event that always brings the whole city to life. 1125 events joined the official line-up with 838 brands and the online audience grew by 23% compared to last year, attracting 630,000 visitors from 162 countries.

The products of the design LAB collaborations drawing inspiration from the Hungarian cultural heritage and approaching it with an innovative mindset have raised the attention of the international audience. The Design Walk in Budapest exhibition was recommended by magazines such as Dezeen, DesignBoom and the design publication of the Italian La Repubblica, Door. As one of the highlights of the week, Rossana Orlandi personally showed the exhibition for the guests. Among the participants were the Italian Elle Decor and Architectural Digest, Domus, Cose di Casa, Australian Vogue Living, British and American journalists. At the Budapest Select umbrella brand’s events, the Czech Vogue, the Italian L’Officiel and GQ, and NSS reporters also viewed the exhibition.

Hungarian brands appeared in an independent exhibition under the Budapest Select umbrella brand for the third time during Milan Design Week, and as in the previous year, the public could encounter domestic works in additional venues. The exhibition space of Solinfo Group’s brand Timbart and Zoltán Tombor photographer’s images were displayed in Rossana Orlandi’s Master Gallery. Furthermore, the result of the collaboration between Sára Kele and Anna Cserba, MOTO, debuted at the Isola Design Festival.

The HFDA aims to provide further international appearance opportunities for Hungarian brands to increase their visibility and expand their trade borders, thus promoting Hungarian creativity towards high international recognition.

You can watch the video presenting Design Walk in Budapest by clicking here .

Hungarian design brands and artists debuting under the Budapest Select umbrella brand

ABODI ceramics X Zakar Clayart Kft

Diána Alchhabi X LumoConcept Kft

Norbert Juhász (komok) X Barlang Műhely Kft

Pócs Judit Studio X Multifelt Factory Kft

sarakele studio X Nezozen Kft

POSITION Collective

Courtesy of HEART & CHERRY gallery:

Áron Baráth

Bence Magyarlaki

Courtesy of Einspach Fine Art & Photography:

Ádám Dóra

Dániel Kármán

Tamás Melkovics

Menyus Szabó

Zoltán Tombor