The Hungarian Design Council (www.mft.org.hu) is a governmental advisory body with its scope of activities, organisational structure and operation stipulated by Government Decree 266 of 2001 (XII. 21). The objective of the Hungarian Design Council is to contribute to improving the quality of life and the competitiveness of the national economy with the tools of design.

Mission: “The objective of the Hungarian Design Council is to contribute to improving the quality of life and the competitiveness of the national economy with the tools of design.  With our concerted efforts we want to create a flourishing country in the centre of Europe where citizens live in an attractive and healthy environment, respect and cultivate their traditions, assert their cultural identity and profess that design is an important part of their well-being.“
The members of the HDC are representatives of the public sector, the design profession and industry. Its chairman is also the president of the Hungarian Intellectual Property Office, and member of the European Design Innovation Initiative Leadership Boards. The 15 members of the HDC are appointed by the minister for national economy for a period of three years.

The Council mission is to

• make proposals on the government’s design policies and initiate measures to carry these out,
• mediate in the development of the design institute system, facilitate ties and cooperation between designers and entrepreneurs,
•  initiate programs, grants, exhibitions and other events that promote design,
• take a stand on and initiate actions regarding the training of designers,
• promote Hungarian design and help Hungarian designers take part in international projects,
• develop and run national design awards as well as the scholarships and stipends systems.

Awards and Grants:

• Hungarian Design Award – The public competition looking back on a history of more than 30 years is announced by the minister for national economy. The call for projects addresses designers and manufacturers with the aim of recognising outstanding achievements, promoting the use of design and contributing to economic recovery and the enhancement of the international competitiveness of Hungarian products with the tools of design.
• Moholy-Nagy Design Grant – The governmental grant programme announced for young designers to implement their innovative intellectual design projects. The objective of the grant is to promote the professional development of young designers, and to strengthen the competitiveness of the economy through the integration of design into innovation.
• Design Management Award – The award was established by HDC to promote the effective and ambitious application of design as well as to recognise those institutions and companies that integrate design into their strategic decisions. It is aimed at bringing the integrated application of design closer to economic players and the wider public.

Professional programmes:

• The Budapest Design Week programme series was launched in 2004 by HDC, which has remained its patron and supporter ever since. The most important goal of the annual design week is to raise the profile of design by highlighting its values, its role played in the economy and society, as well as to increase trust in design and strengthen communication between the various players of design. 
• HDC organises, supports and participates in numerous domestic and international design exhibitions, conferences, workshops, etc.