2026/04/30
Creative Hungary offered contemporary design industry businesses the opportunity to showcase at Milan Design Week for the fifth time. The Budapest Select – Patterns of Being exhibition presented 65 works by 26 designers and brands in Milan’s 5VIE design district. The exhibition attracted thousands of visitors and significant professional and media attention, and resulted in direct sales.
The collective exhibition, held from 21 to 26 April 2026, examined the connections between design and human existence, based on the curatorial concept by Hanna Imre. The five thematic units – Current, Aspiration, Fate, Circularity and Responsibility – reflected issues of change, cyclicality, fate, and responsibility, providing a complex interpretation framework for the creations responding to contemporary social, technological, and ecological challenges. The spatial concept was designed by VÜ Architects. Their reed-based installation created a sensitive, “breathing” environment that organically connected to the curatorial narrative.
The exhibition is built on more than 150 years of Hungarian material culture, showcasing a blend of artisanal heritage, technological precision, and cultural depth. The displayed works combined traditional material use with a contemporary, experimental approach, reinforcing the unique character of Hungarian design on the international stage.
The programme was accompanied by musical events, DJ sets, performances, and culinary activities, allowing guests to experience Hungarian culture through multiple senses. Artists from the Ballet Company of Győr performed unique choreographies on several occasions, while workshops and craft activities created direct points of connection for visitors.
Professional interest was exceptionally high: throughout the week, several international curators, gallery owners, and resellers visited the exhibition, which could lay the groundwork for new collaborations in the long term. The project was featured on platforms such as Dezeen, Domus, Archiproducts, Colour Hive, and Interior Daily. Furthermore, the panel discussion held with Dezeen further elevated professional visibility. On social media, Budapest Select’s content has garnered more than 4.4 million views, reaching nearly 1.4 million users.
Once again this year, the presence in Milan has helped Hungarian design to establish itself as a prominent and relevant player on the international scene and further strengthen Budapest’s position as a key hub in the Central European design region.
Participants of the exhibition: Anna Kis-Kéry, CÉZÉ, DE_VISION, Dora Eiler, Econor Design, ERNAK Design, Fanni Hegyi, HomeArt by SsakoolHypers, IDA STONE, István Dukai, Kinga Mód, Ligeti, monikauveges, mybettershelf, Nóra Szilágyi, Sándor Körei, sarakele studio x Moa Woodman, Studio Arkhéo × Reneszánsz Kőfaragó Zrt., TIKTIK Studio, VALODI, VeronikWood, Vivien Bene, VUUV Works, Woodoo Furniture, YOZA, Zita Majoros.
© Creative Hungary. 2026. Minden jog fenntartva.
