It is becoming increasingly timely for designers to focus their attention on older adults as a target group: By 2050, 30% of Europe’s population is expected to be over 65 years old. Among those over age 75, a third are affected by musculoskeletal issues, coupled with depression, which impacts nearly 15% of this age group. This also leads to substantial demand on hospitals, as people over 80 require increasingly prolonged stays. 

One application designed for older adults and patients is the interactive Zenctuary VR, developed based on research led by Ágnes Bakk with the support of software developers at Code and Soda Ltd. Using participatory design tools, the project creates a therapeutic natural environment where users can interact with nature in a non-gaming format, enabling them to experience its restorative benefits. Conducted in collaboration with the ELTE Faculty of Education and Psychology, testing to date has demonstrated positive effects on control groups comprising both ADHD and neurotypical participants. Users reported feeling calmer after just 10 minutes of use, with reduced stress and anxiety levels.  

The next phase will focus on refining the application through participatory design methods and testing it on hospital patients. With the funding secured, the research can now be expanded into both scientific and design domains to further study the impact of VR interventions on mood, anxiety, and stress levels, explore its diagnostic potential, and assess its feasibility within healthcare settings. 

In the next phase, the team will be joined by art researcher Samuel Chovanec, and the project will involve collaboration between MOME IC researchers and several partners, including the Strasbourg University Hospital, the University of York, the Semmelweis University Geriatrics Clinic, and the Jewish Charity Hospital.   The ultimate goal of Zenctuary VR+ is to improve patient care and the quality of life for the elderly, promote relaxation and recovery, and reduce the workload of healthcare professionals.   

For Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, it is a particular point of pride that Zenctuary VR+ is the first design-oriented research proposal to be found worthy for funding by the HU-rizont programme of the Hungarian National Research, Development, and Innovation Office (NKFI Office), and it is the largest independent research project in recent years to secure funding.  Launched in May 2024 by the Hungarian government, the HU-rizont programme aims to support international research projects, with a focus on digital transformation, healthy living, the green transition, and the circular economy. Due to significant interest, the programme’s initial budget of 8 billion forints was increased to 12 billion forints, allowing 30 out of 112 proposals to receive funding. The programme seeks to position Hungarian universities as leaders in international research collaborations and to develop innovative solutions with real societal, economic, and financial impacts. 

Head of the Interaction and Immersion Hub and lead researcher Ágnes Karolina Bakk PhD received the Aurum Futuri Award in 2024, established jointly in 2023 by the Foundation for Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design and MOME. She leads and oversees multiple projects. In addition to her extensive research and scientific publication activities, she has been deeply involved in research organisation over the past decade, establishing the Zip-Scene Conference series, which has brought together a significant international professional community in recent years. She is also involved in the organisation of other conferences and has built an extensive international network that greatly supports MOME’s internationalisation efforts.  Within the Innovation Centre, she has been instrumental in developing internal research excellence, and her research career is characterised by experimentation, collaboration, crossing disciplinary boundaries, and an interdisciplinary approach to examining the intersections of science, technology, and art.