New and returning manufacturers and designers collaborated in the third design LAB incubation program

The design LAB incubation program of the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) launched in the spring of 2022 has ended, thanks to which six manufacturer-designer couples received support to use their professional knowledge and creativity to develop a new product together. After the six-month production process, innovative, sustainable products were created, which will not only be successful in the domestic but also in the international market.

The primary goal of the design LAB incubation program is to promote the creation of collaborations between players in the creative sector, manufacturers and designers, and to strengthen and modernize the domestic manufacturing background. Thanks to the program, the ideas of talented designers can meet with professional manufacturers and create unique as well as competitive products together. In addition, the design LAB places special focus on production development, increasing the industry's competitiveness and encouraging the sector's exports.

Manufacturers and designers could apply for the program with jointly submitted projects, and the Agency helped the creation of successful collaborations by organizing a relationship-building event, Speed Dating. The design LAB program received 36 applications, of which, according to the decision of the professional jury, six manufacturer-designer duos won the financial support and were able to start manufacturing their products.

The manufacturer-designer duos displayed their own experience, applied technology and individual style in their joint creative process. Thanks to the program, diverse creations that prioritize user needs were created, and the pursuit of sustainability can be found as a common point in the work of all the pairs.

"This is the third time we have organized the design LAB incubation program, and it is an uplifting feeling to see year after year that the creative sector of our country has outstanding talents. Also, the program confirms that learning and developing is best possible through professional collaborations and exchanges of experience. In addition to following the goals defined in its strategy, the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency also pays special attention to sustainability, which can also be seen in action in the design LAB program. Thanks to the program, by combining the experience of the manufacturer and the creativity of the designers, products were created this year that are not only sustainable, but also promise to be competitive on both the domestic and international markets. All this further strengthens Hungary's position in the regional design industry," - said Anita Forintos-Szűcs, deputy general manager of HFDA.

Art Innova Kft. and designer Dr. Norbert Vasváry-Nádor also deal with the recycling of carpentry by-products within the framework of the APPACK project, they aimed to develop a tool sharing furniture. With the REPETA product line, Concrazy Kft. and designer Sára Kele offer a collection of interior design concrete objects for catering units. The objects are made by crushing scrap concrete elements and then using them, which draws attention to the importance of circularity. The result of the joint work of Faktum Bútor Kft. and Máté Horváth is the Shape project, which is an innovative set of products that functions as a baby's room. During the collaboration, sustainability is put in focus by planning for a long life and mounting on the sheet. The Shango project, a mobile kitchen island, was created as a result of the joint creative process of Gránit és Márvány Kft. and Espiritu Consulting Kft. (designer Bettina Bessenyei). When creating the product, leftover or waste pieces from the processing and cutting of stoneware ceramic tiles and natural stone were used. The joint project of Kárpitos Partner Group Bt. and IO Line And Round Kft. (designer Annabella Hevesi) is the PEACH Easy Chair, an upholstered lounge chair for home and office use. The special feature of the product is that the 3D printed metal fittings achieve the desired ergonomic effect by mechanically distorting the sponge - instead of shaping, gluing or casting. Multifelt Factory Kft. and Co & Co Designcommunication Kft. (designer Márton Budai) created the KILIM tactile lamp family. The main element of the product family is wool felt, the production of which is the least environmentally burdensome activity in the textile industry: only water, steam and heat are needed for its production, in addition the felt waste generated during production can be recycled into production.

The success of the design LAB is proven by the fact that the incubation program, now held for the third time, was able to welcome returning participants: from the manufacturer side, Kárpitos Partner Group Bt., and from the designer side, Sára Kele, Máté Horváth and IO Line And Round Kft. (designer Annabella Hevesi) participated repeatedly to create fruitful collaborations.

Further goal of the HFDA is to provide wide visibility and export opportunities for the collaborations, therefore the Agency is constantly working on to ensure that the products created during the program can appear at as many domestic and international exhibitions and design platforms as possible. In the spirit of this, some design LAB products can be presented within the framework of the Milan Design Week Alcova exhibition.

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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 goals.