This year, 360 Design Budapest attracted huge interest. More than 5,500 visitors viewed the highlighted exhibition of Budapest Design Week from 9–19 October in the Buda Castle District, featuring nearly 400 creations by almost 100 domestic and regional designers and manufacturers. And the good news is, even those who could not visit the Baroque palace in person did not miss the exhibition, organised by the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency – the exhibition is still available in the form of a virtual tour HERE, on the website of 360 Design Budapest.
This year, we realised the sixth edition of 360 Design Budapest, which was a special experience again. The twice Red Dot Award-winning exhibition has become one of the most important design events in Central Europe, an inspiring meeting point where designers, manufacturers, and the audience can truly connect.
Each year, we aim to showcase the latest domestic and regional trends and the cultural and economic significance of design. We are glad to see that the number of people interested in this world increases each year. One of our most popular programmes was the Meet the Designer & Manufacturer, where almost all manufacturers and most of the designers participated in person. At the full-house event, more than 200 visitors could talk to the exhibitors directly, gaining first-hand insight into the fascinating process of creating objects. For us, these personal encounters truly demonstrate the power of design: it builds connections, sparks dialogue, and provides inspiration.
In addition, we also wish to draw attention to the importance of skilled jobs in the creative industry through the exhibition. In line with this, around 600 students from 20 vocational and higher education institutions took part in our free guided tours this year, led by Barna Erdész, the exhibition’s curator. The students and pupils had the opportunity to explore the work of 10 Hungarian design manufacturers, more than 70 Hungarian designers, and over 10 regional designers — including those from Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Ukraine, Romania, and Armenia — gaining a comprehensive overview of the latest trends in contemporary object culture.
During the 11 days of the exhibition, every visitor could find the programme that suited them most, whether they wanted to connect to the world of design playfully or profoundly. The Sándor Borz Kováts selection, the music and dance performances, the creative workshops, the roundtable discussions, and the subjective guided tours attracted over 1000 visitors, offering experiences that go beyond the traditional exhibition format.
360 Design Budapest also saw high online activity: our social media content reached more than 1.2 million users, further enhancing the international visibility of Hungarian design.
Although the exhibition’s doors closed on 19 October, 360 Design Budapest is far from over.
The virtual tour will remain accessible for a whole year, allowing anyone to explore the 1000 square metre exhibition space and learn the stories behind the works and their creators by clicking on the information panels.
For us, this digital presence also demonstrates the connecting power of design, since we believe that the experience of creation can continue to live not only in the physical space but even online. Rediscover 360 Design Budapest with us — now virtually!
The virtual tour is available HERE.