The Best of the Industry Behind the Evaluation of the 360 Design Budapest Curatorial Competition

This year, the Hungarian Fashion & Design Agency (HFDA) has selected the curator of the 360 Design Budapest exhibition again through an open call for applications, who will help enchant the audience with their unique and distinctive vision at one of the region’s most esteemed design exhibitions. The entries were evaluated by an advisory board comprising professionals in contemporary design, art theory, and the creative industry who ensured the expertise behind the selection with their extensive knowledge and experience. Let’s get to know them!

Selecting the right curatorial entry is an exciting and responsible task each year since numerous aspects need to be considered for the exhibition to provide a truly inspiring and authentic picture of the world of contemporary design. In evaluating the submissions, the jury primarily assessed the originality of the idea, the professional quality of the design, the thoroughness of the exhibition concept, and the extent to which it aligns with international trends while showcasing Hungarian object culture. The decision is backed by a varied professional background and vast experience. Let us get to know the experts who participated in the evaluation of the curatorial applications for the exhibition to be held from 9 to 19 October 2025. 

Dr Judit Horváth is a museologist, curator, and founder of the Contemporary Design Department at the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest, which she has been leading since 2015. As one of Hungary’s most renowned experts in contemporary design collections, she is a member of several Hungarian and international design advisory boards and juries. Her research focuses on the exploration and curation of 20th- and 21st-century design objects, with particular emphasis on their cultural contexts and historical narratives. Over her career spanning more than two and a half decades, she has curated over 150 exhibitions of contemporary art and design, also thanks to the fact that she is equally experienced in both private collections and public institutions and possesses a broad perspective on the international contemporary art and design scene. She has been teaching as a senior lecturer at Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design since 2012 and plays an essential role in nurturing new talent as head of the Form and Material Knowledge Centre.

Dr Anna Olajos is an art manager, cultural and strategic consultant, and researcher. She has been the professional leader of HAB (Hungarian Art & Business) art centre since 2023. She completed her studies in Arts Management at Oxford Brookes IBS and in Law at Pázmány Péter Catholic University. She began her career at Saatchi & Saatchi Budapest and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (NYC). A highlight of her research work is the study titled Hungarian Art in the Light of Data, conducted in collaboration with Albert-László Barabási. She is a mentor in the Budapest Art Mentor Programme. Her work is characterised by a strong focus on system- and structure-building, and she successfully creates bridges between diverse fields. 

Luca Adamik is a design theory specialist who earned her master’s degree in design theory from the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, where her research focused on the intersections of the female body, performativity, and Central and Eastern European women’s art. Alongside curatorial and commercial responsibilities at acb Gallery, she is deeply engaged in theoretical research, developing exhibition concepts, and contextualising Hungarian neo-avant-garde and post-avant-garde art within the international scene. She has delivered lectures on the significance and cultural role of design at several prestigious domestic and international forums.

Details of the now-closed curatorial call and the application requirements remain available HERE. To find out which applicant received the highest score from the professional advisory board and the HFDA, and who has been selected as the curator of the 2025 360 Design Budapest exhibition, click HERE.