Celebrating creativity since 1880 Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design stands before us. It has been a hub for artistic innovation. Let me tell you its story.
The Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design began as the Hungarian Royal National School of Arts and Crafts. It started with a single department for carving. This was in the Old Music Academy on Andrássy Street. New sections quickly followed. These included goldsmithing wood-carving and decorative painting. Copper engraving and sculpture were also added. The school transformed into a college then a university. Today it is a center for contemporary art and design.
In 1896, the institution moved to the Palace of Applied Arts. This building was designed by Ödön Lechner and Gyula Párton. The school quickly became independent. It achieved success both nationally and internationally. Awards came at the Millennium Exhibition the Paris Exhibition and the Turin Exhibition. Success continued at the Milan Exhibition.
Despite two world wars the school expanded its training. In 1948, it became a college. More students were interested in the institution. In 1954, part of the college moved to Zugligeti Road. This building was designed by Zoltán Farkasdy. In the 1960s the name changed. It became the College of Applied Arts. There were 14 specialties across departments. Postgraduate education was introduced. This included two years of advanced training.
The school continued to grow in the 1960s. It created a typographic department. Before this it focused on objects and buildings. This period saw visual communication advance. International contacts also grew. The institution’s work was recognized internationally. It became a university in 1971.
In 1983, the university introduced educational reforms. The first two semesters included theoretical modules. Students studied drawing form and material. Creative projects were key. After passing these students chose specializations. After graduating students could pursue a master’s degree. In the early 1980s graphic design photography video and animation training began. In 1986 the University of Applied Arts offered a management diploma. It was the first public institution in Hungary to do so. The Center for Visual Education was set up for teacher training.
The change of regime in 1989 allowed students to gain foreign scholarships. They gained broader professional experience. On January 1 2000 the institution became the Hungarian University of Applied Arts. The Doctoral School also opened. It offered postgraduate degrees in art.
In 2005, the Senate decided to rename the university after László Moholy-Nagy. On March 30 2006 it officially became Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design MOME.
MOME celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2020. It is a significant European institution. It educates designers and media artists. It enhances design consciousness in Hungary. The university offers Bachelor Master and Doctoral programs. These cover design photography animation and fashion. Arts and crafts media art graphic design pedagogy architecture and design theory are also included. MOME also offers short courses. These include service design sound design and data visualization. Streetphoto is also a course.
In recent years MOME has developed its campus. It has added academic facilities and a technology park. There is also a new innovation center. The new campus includes lecture halls and seminar rooms. It has a traditional and a digital library. It is equipped with photo film and music studios. Digital visualization workshops are available. Labs provide up-to-date technology. The campus is in a green environment.
Innovation research and business collaborations are key. The MOME Innovation Center supports these. It researches new media and physical technologies. Socially responsible and ecological design are studied. Design thinking and creative strategies are emphasized. MOME partners with creative industries. Students gain practical experience.
MOME has a great international reputation. It attracts students from around the world. It has built partnerships with European institutions. It implements international research projects. It has increased student teacher and staff mobility.
MOME has trained outstanding designers and artists. They have received international recognition. Ádám Nagy won the Red Dot Design Award. His Birosign design was for electronic signatures. András Húnfalvi and Ferenc Laufer won for HandInScan. It is a medical device for hand disinfection.
Many acclaimed fashion designers studied at MOME. Adél Kovács founded NUBU. She designed Hungary’s outfits for the 2020 Olympics. Dóra Tomcsányi is a sought-after designer in Hungary. MOME plays a decisive role in Hungarian design. Graduates succeed in their creative fields. The university serves as a professional gathering point.