REC Announced the Winners of the Design Workshop Competition at the Made in Russia Forum

On October 21, at the Made in Russia International Export Forum held at Russia National Center, Moscow, Veronika Nikishina, General Director of Russian Export Center (REC, VEB Group), awarded winners of the Design Workshop competition, a project to create concepts for souvenir products under the Made in Russia national brand.

Over 120 designers and creatives from across the country participated in the competition. The project was part of a strategic collaboration between Russian Export Center and Agency for Creative Industries (AKI), aimed at developing creative industries and engaging designers in promoting Russian goods in global markets.

The jury, which included representatives of Russian Export Center, AKI, and industry experts, selected the winners of the Made in Russia track: the Bykomarov team and Chill Flex MISIS.

The Bykomarov team presented a collection inspired by Russian fairy tales, reimagined through the aesthetics of contemporary design. At the center of the concept is a chess set, with the pieces embodying folktale characters.

"We wanted to showcase Russia through its intellectual and cultural code without stereotypes. Made in Russia stands for reliability, engineering excellence, and honesty with the consumer,” Yakov Komarov, Leader of the Bykomarov team.

Chill Flex MISIS offered laconic geometric forms, transforming symbols familiar to every Russian into universal pictograms.

"We were looking for a language the world could understand without translation. A simple form can convey the character of Russia. Made in Russia is a brand that combines design and export, telling the world about our culture and talent,” Daniil Khatuntsev, Leader of the Chill Flex MISIS.

Design Workshop is an annual competition for creative teams organized by the Agency for Creative Industries. Now in its eighth year, it aims to discover and support young designers capable of reimagining Russian cultural codes through a contemporary visual language.

Teams work on a co-creation principle: development is supported by mentors, representatives of client companies and relevant universities, while experienced trackers help organize the process. Participants develop branded product concepts, and the best solutions have the opportunity to be implemented in collaboration with Russian manufacturers. Previous competition partners were the Tretyakov Gallery, Gorky Park, Yandex, and other major organizations.

In 2025, a separate track was dedicated to the Made in Russia national brand, a program for promoting domestic products in foreign markets.

Made in Russia International Export Forum is a key event of the year for Russian exporters. The Forum is organized by Russian Export Center. The Moscow Government is the business program partner. TASS is the general information partner. RIA Novosti is the exclusive information partner. Information partners include Channel One, Rossiya24, MAER Media, Vedomosti, Expert, Gazprom Media, and Insight People. Roscongress Foundation is the operator of the Forum's business program.

Russian Export Center (REC, VEB Group) is a government institution that supports non-resource, non-energy export. It provides companies from various industries with both financial and non-financial support at all stages of entering international markets, including as part of the International Cooperation and Export national project. Most services offered by the REC Group are available online on My Export digital platform. REC is also responsible for the key functions of supporting and implementing the Made in Russia program.