News

Opportunities created for young people will positively impact all of our futures A new chapter is beginning in the life of MOME. The institution, which has played a definitive role in Hungary's design culture in addition to being an innovator in higher education, is set to elevate its operations further through the "University of the Future" programme. The new rector of MOME, designer Pál Koós, began his term on August 1st, supported in an innovative manner by Dr Petra Aczél, communication and media researcher, as Vice-Rector for Excellence, and Lili Érmezei, photographer and organisational psychologist, as Vice-Rector for Strategy and Development. What new leadership competencies and formats are required by a university undergoing transformation? What do a highly effective organisation and a perfectly designed three-legged stool have in common?

Since 2020, students of MOME’s Institute for Theoretical Studies have had the opportunity to apply for the 1-year grant specifically supporting the early careers of curators and theoretical experts five times in a row. In the 2024/2025 academic year, the final iteration of the grant was awarded to the editorial team of Rendes Kapuőrök, a group of ten Design Theory MA students, for their concept of an Instagram platform dedicated to exhibition criticism.

In recent days, our colleagues, faculty, and students have shown just what MOME is capable of when faced with a crisis. This week, volunteers from MOME have been working in Vác, helping fill sandbags to support official agencies in their flood defence efforts along the frontlines. With the emergency situation expected to last several more days, every helping hand is needed, and MOME is once again showing that its strengths lie not only in knowledge, but also in its ability to act swiftly when required.

Organised with professional support from MOME for the 3rd year in a row, the CheckINN Revitaliser idea competition invited university students from across Hungary to submit plans for the revitalisation of approximately 12,000 hectares of unused rust zone and brownfield sites in the country for potentially touristic purposes. The winning team, whose members include several MOME students, focused on rejuvenating the barren Pilis-tető by repurposing its abandoned buildings and restoring the surrounding natural environment.

Once again, the Stefan Lengyel Scholarship of Excellence has been awarded to talented MOME students to recognise their outstanding achievements. The winning projects of the 2023/2024 spring semester feature a range of experimental works that addresses current social issues, spanning from video games to research, architectural revitalisation projects, and developmental tools for children.

What does it mean to be a responsible fashion designer, and what role does education play in this regard? What influences are most apparent in the work of the latest generation of designers? Each year, the Fashion and Textile Design programme at the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design (MOME) hosts a Fashion Show, showcasing the work of its graduating students and alumni which not only hold aesthetic value but also convey powerful social and cultural messages. This time, the entire visual concept of the show was designed by students, while the alumni community is represented by the latest collection of the THEFOUR brand, which has recently opened their own store.

Launched jointly by the Foundation for Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design and the University, the Aurum Futuri Excellence Awards have been presented for the second time in MOME’s history. This year’s recipients are lead instructor of the Mobility Design specialisation András Húnfalvi, and head and lead researcher of the Immersion & Interaction Hub Ágnes Karolina Bakk PhD.

The Foundation for Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design has appointed former President of the UNESCO General Conference and member of the World Academy of Art and Science Katalin Bogyay to its Board of Trustees.

As of 1 August, the role of rector of the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design will be filled by industrial designer and university professor Pál Koós, who has made significant contributions to the growth and advancement of the Hungarian design profession. As a designer, he has received numerous accolades both domestically and internationally. At the same time, he is an example of a true MOME citizen by virtue of not just earning his degrees and qualifications at the university, but also successfully serving the community for many years as a leader of the curriculum development team and as a teacher.

Iris Aruwa, who graduated from the Ceramic programme at the Secondary School of Visual and Applied Arts, will continue her studies at MOME’s Designer-Maker programme from September. She is the first participant of the Tomorrow Belongs to You – For the Creative Talents of the Future scholarship programme to successfully gain admission to MOME. Previously, she applied to MOME's Animation programme without success. The scholarship programme has now enabled her to find a track where she can succeed.

The University of the Future initiative is a key focus this year, aimed at MOME’s comprehensive revitalisation. Thanks to persistent efforts over recent months, working groups have developed a detailed implementation plan for the University of the Future programme, a.k.a. the “Three Schools model”, which was unanimously accepted in December 2023. The process has now reached a new milestone: on 18 July, the Senate has pledged its support for the plan, paving the way for continued collaborative work to implement the new structure by next winter and to transform MOME into one of Europe's leading design higher education institutions.

Our University has been invited to exhibit at one of the world's most prestigious digital art festivals, the Ars Electronica 2024. Each year, the Campus series of the long-standing festival presents an art university. This year's exhibition is organised in collaboration with the University of Linz, and will feature outstanding student diploma works from recent years in Linz's main square selected by curators Judit Eszter Kárpáti, Esteban de la Torre, and Ágoston Nagy.