Debrecen’s Contemporary Face: Painted with Design

This year, Debrecen is joining the national Budapest Design Week series for the first time, and it’s making a strong debut with a full lineup of six programs, showcasing that the city is not only rich in history but also thriving in contemporary creativity. During Design Week, thought-provoking dialogues, community experiences, and inspiring creations take center stage in the city.

Kicking off the series is the book launch Mi a (m)érték?! (What’s the (m)Value?!), which explores issues of consumption, design, and cultural sustainability in an accessible and richly illustrated format. The Blurring Boundaries workshop puts the spotlight on young designers’ graduation projects, while inviting participants to try T-shirt painting, wire sculpture, and mobile animation creation. The roundtable discussion How Old Are You? explores generational differences and exchanges, bringing together designers from various age groups to share their experiences.

In the spirit of openness, the Kós Károly Secondary School of Arts opens its studio to give insight into students’ daily creative work. Social awareness takes the spotlight in the Making the Invisible Visible workshop, which brings participants closer to the life experiences of child laborers in the fashion and textile industry through an interactive role-playing session. The intersections of film and design are explored by the Malter Traveling Film Festival with short films, exhibitions, and discussions, offering fresh perspectives on visual culture.

Even in its first year, Debrecen is showing its contemporary side: reflecting on social issues, building community, and giving space to young talents. The Debrecen Design Week programs prove that the city not only preserves its past but also weaves its future with threads of creativity. What could be more exciting than that? Let’s go to Debrecen!

Date: October 8–18, 2025
Details and registration: on the venue pages and Budapest Design Week platforms