#distributed design #journey #collaboration

Finding Our Tribe

Founded in 2011, FabLab Budapest is Hungary’s first digital fabrication laboratory—a vibrant, open-access hub where traditional craftsmanship meets modern technology. Our mission is to democratise access to digital fabrication tools, foster creativity, and empower communities to tackle local challenges while staying connected to a global network of makers. Importantly, we’ve learned that “fun” is just as essential as function, and this ethos underpins everything we do.

When we first opened our doors, open access to fabrication—digital or traditional—was nearly nonexistent in Hungary. We set out to change this landscape by offering programs that showcase how traditional and modern techniques can intersect. One such initiative, Woven Futures, introduces textile, jewellery, and ceramic designers to digital design and manufacturing, blending theory with hands-on practice. Another, our University Ambassador Program, equips students with design and prototyping skills and empowers them to foster creativity within their faculties. Projects like JetClay, where we’re building a local 3D printing hub rooted in sustainable principles, highlight our commitment to innovation that honours Hungarian ceramics heritage while embracing emerging technologies.

To amplify our work, we joined the Distributed Design Platform, which broadened our reach and opened new collaborative avenues. Thanks to this network, our talents have participated in mobility schemes and challenges, such as the Circular Cities Challenge, bringing new ideas and prototypes to a global audience. In turn, we’ve benefited from the synergy of international connections. The sharing of open-source projects like JetClay has sparked creativity in other design communities, while we’ve absorbed practices and expertise that enrich our own. Our local impact continues to grow, supported by the visibility and support the platform provides.

This photo was taken in 2019, when the Distributed Design general assembly was hosted by FabLab Budapest during Design Week. It ran alongside an exhibition of our emerging creatives’ project work and was one of the most memorable events we’ve had with the FabLab community.

For us, Distributed Design principles—openness, collaboration, regeneration, and ecosystemic thinking—have profoundly influenced not only our projects but also the identity of our lab. The platform offered both vision and tools to integrate these values across our activities, from educational programs to new services such as launching lab spaces in universities. This shift broadened our horizons, positioning us as a stronger player in Hungary’s design innovation scene. Looking back, we’d tell our younger selves to embrace openness and experimentation sooner, share successes and failures more freely, and invest in more joint projects with fellow Distributed Design members to deepen our impact.

In imagining the future of Distributed Design a decade from now, we foresee it becoming deeply embedded in global and local innovation ecosystems. As for FabLab Budapest, we expect it to remain a warm, welcoming space for experimentation, fabrication, and dialogue—somewhere people come not just to learn how things should be made but also to understand when they shouldn’t be made at all. With one foot in tradition and one in the future, we hope to become an international hub that blends heritage and cutting-edge technology, inspiring the next generation of makers to create responsibly, thoughtfully, and sustainably. Through all our transformations, we remain committed to fostering curiosity, sharing knowledge, and igniting the spark that reshapes local and global communities alike.