What are the three words that come to mind when you think about your years at MOME?

Community life, presenting, workshop practice.

What did the MOME community give you?

In a community, knowledge multiplies as everyone’s experiences come together – that’s where its real strength lies. During our BA programme we had a huge number of design tasks, which everyone initially approached from their own perspective, but in the end our classmates’ problems often became our problems too. More than once, we solved them together by helping one another.

Which university project do you look back on most fondly?

At first, I enjoyed those projects the most where I could experiment not only with the form of objects, but also with their technical construction. One such project was my umbrella design. Later on, I became increasingly interested in circular thinking and material experimentation. This led to my optical eyewear frame project, in which I worked with recycled plastic melted down from bottle caps.

What is your fondest MOME memory?

During a design solfège course, we had a one-week team-based design project where we had to build a chain reaction using all kinds of objects. Starting our domino effect required ten people, and the final step of the process involved untying the former rector’s shoelaces.

What advice would you give to your applicant self?

I would advise myself not to let others influence my choice of career path, and to invest as much energy as possible in preparation, so that I can spend my life doing something I truly love.

When and on what occasion did you last visit the university?

I am currently working on two joint projects with the university: the MOME Pavilion at the Valley of Arts festival and the design of the exhibition for the Stefan Lengyel Scholarship recipients. Because of this, it’s not uncommon for me to be at MOME. It’s a great feeling to be able to return – working on shared projects always presents exciting challenges for me.

Which professional achievement have you been most proud of since graduating? What was the most exciting part of this project for you?

I am probably most proud of the realisation of the MOME Pavilion, as it has so far posed the greatest challenge due to the scale of both the design and, especially, the construction. The structure of the pavilion was made from construction scaffolding, with custom-manufactured additional elements. Assembling these at a height of six metres was no easy task, but once it was completed, it was wonderful to see how well it functioned at the festival.

Do you have a secret skill or talent that few people know about?

I have been practising traditional tai chi chuan martial arts for six years, and recently won a bronze medal at a world competition in Spain. What drew me to this martial art is that, compared to other sports, it approaches movement as a more complete system: alongside physical and mental development, it also engages with the human energetic system. Not to mention that its effectiveness for self-defence is significant.

I have always been interested in combat sports – before tai chi, I played handball, boxed, and practised Muay Thai.

What are you working on now? What do you enjoy most about your work?

I have several very exciting product development projects that have been on my mind for a long time, and now I finally have the time to move forward with them. One of these is an assistive device for visually impaired people, which I first started working on during my Erasmus studies; I am currently looking for an investor for this project. The other is a product sales system concept that, hopefully, could be launched in Budapest by the end of the year.

What inspires you in your work?

The forms and proportions found in nature inspire me, and I try to align my form-making process with these. Recently, I have also been studying traditional artistic movements that, beyond the material, have strong spiritual orientations as well.

In addition, I find The Essence of Sacred Art by Titus Burckhardt and Les Symboles de la Science sacrée by René Guénon particularly thought-provoking.

What helps you switch off and recharge, even during the most intense periods?

A city breakfast combined with a walk with my wife always helps me unwind.

Have you ever experienced a creative block? What helped you get through it?

For me, a creative block appears when I am not focused enough on my projects. The lesson I’ve learned is that it’s important to involve other people who can help take some of the burden off your shoulders, and to have a schedule that you actually stick to.

What music do you work to?

Dhrupad – Raga Yaman by Zia Mohiuddin Dagar.

A book that is important to me…

Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse.

A film that means a lot to me…

Black Cat, White Cat by Emir Kusturica.