Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design

Heritage of the Future

MOME Timeline

The Circles of our Community

The Spaces of Remembering

News

Whose footsteps are we following in when entering Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design? Who has been shaping it over the decades and what values are we carrying on? The MOME Heritage of the Future programme aims to support works, developments, applications, and events that reflect the spirit, character, identity, and values of MOME.

Launched at the initiative of Rector József Fülöp, the tripartite programme creates a framework for a dialogue about the past, providing an opportunity to connect with the University's traditions through meaningful works of art and the legacy of illustrious figures. Understanding our shared history and heritage plays a key role in building our community.

MOME Timeline

145 years ago, the earliest predecessor of our university, the National Royal Hungarian School of Applied Arts, opened its doors on Andrássy Road. To mark this historic moment and anniversary, we present the journey from the school to the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design.

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The Circles of our Community

At MOME, community is defined as one of our core values. In the midst of constant change and the repetitive rhythm of educational processes, we act as a point of reference presenting the values of the community and their tangible symbols: the University’s emblems, awards, and accolades.

Silver Cylinder

Designed by a student in 2009, the Silver Cylinder is a symbol of belonging to MOME, and it is also the University’s community jewellery. The first Silver Cylinders were presented by Rector at the time Gábor Kopek on the 130th anniversary of the University’s foundation, at the opening ceremony of the 2010/2011 academic year. Since then, both employees and students are awarded Silver Cylinders at the opening ceremony of the year accompanied by a handshake from the rector.

Designer: Kristóf Gelley

Golden Cylinder

The Rector presents this badge to the recipients of several of the University’s awards and titles, including honorary citizens of the University, recipients of the Rector’s Award and the Aurum Futuri Prize, as well as former teachers who after their tenure, have continued to play an important role in the life of the University. The Golden Cylinder has signified excellence and a special position in the life of MOME for the entire community, since 2011.

Designer: Kristóf Gelley

The Heritage of the Future emblem

On the initiative of Rector József Fülöp, graduates at all training levels receive a bronze object inspired by the letter 'O' of the MOME logo, along with their diplomas from 2024 onwards. The emblem symbolises unity, belonging to the community, and becoming a member of the MOME alumni. As a wearable piece of jewellery, it can come into interplay with the human body and clothing in many ways, and serves as a visible insignia.

Designer: Krisztián Ádám

Moholy-Nagy Award

By bearing the world-famous artist’s name, the university expresses its identification with Moholy-Nagy’s educational and artistic principles, as well as its aim to preserve his legacy both nationally and internationally. Established as a part of this commitment, the Moholy-Nagy Award is not only a token of our esteem, but also a reinforcement of the bond between the MOME community and the recipient. It is intended to recognise the oeuvre of persons whose humanistic and creative essence is closely linked to the University or the values it stands for.

Moholy-Nagy Award trophy

In 2021, on the 15th anniversary of our taking Moholy-Nagy’s name, the award trophy was redesigned by Ferenczy Noémi Award-winning metalworker and faculty member of the MOME Design Institute Krisztián Ádám. In harmony with the growth of the University and its coming into its own, the award seeks to become both a tangible manifestation of Moholy-Nagy’s philosophy and a reflection of the constant change that is our shared experience.

Moholy-Nagy Stairs

One of the University's busiest passages, the main staircase of the MASTER building, has become home to a memorial dedicated to Moholy-Nagy Award recipients. The metal inlays on the handrails are discreet, unobtrusive signs to be sought out and deciphered. The only element to help orientation is an additional cast inserted in the railing on the landing, which reads ‘Moholy-Nagy Award Recipients’.

Designers: Metal designer András Szilos and graphic designer Tamás Kósa

The Spaces of Remembering

MOME has undergone major changes over the past two decades. With the development of the MOME Campus – Creative Innovation and Knowledge Park, it has become an open university engaged in constant interaction with its physical and intellectual environment, student and staff numbers have increased significantly, and the green spaces of the Campus have been transformed into a public park open to all.

Amidst these changes, the presence of works that strengthen our identity and presenting the values of our past has become very important. The Spaces of Our Memory programme focuses on placing archived and declared valuable artworks into a contemporary context during campus development, showcasing impressive works by artists associated with MOME.

Memorial Cubes

The small concrete cubes located outside the Zugligeti Road façade of the MOME TWO building, in a quiet memorial grove pay homage to our great role models – our architecture teachers.

Makovényi Terrace

Steven Makovényi (1926–2009), born István Makovényi, studied at the Hungarian College of Arts and Design before leaving Hungary in the 1950s. As a successful interior designer and leading designer, he designed numerous exhibitions for the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum complex.

MOME Emotions

The Foundation for Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design launched its Patronage Programme in 2021, specifically to support initiatives that aim to strengthen the MOME community, resulting in the conception of MOME Fine Art, and as part of it, the MOME EMOTIONS exhibition.

Nagy Tamás Bench

A pre-eminent architect of post-regime change Hungary, Tamás Nagy (1951–2020) was a prominent teacher at the Architecture Institute.

Statue of the reading worker

András Beck’s statue of the Reading Worker is believed to have been brought to the university in the mid-1950s and debuted at the First Hungarian Exhibition of Fine Art in 1950.

Pogány Frigyes Terrace

The statue of Frigyes Pogány is one of those artworks that had served as important links between the past and the present even before the development of the campus started.

Rubik’s Cube

Starting out as a geometric model, it evolved into one of the most widely known spatial puzzle games of all times. Initially a student of the University, Ernő Rubik also taught at MOME’s predecessor, the College of Applied Arts, in the 1970s.

You can find out more about the Heritage of the Future programme from the publication below.

News

From now on, MOME graduates are given a Heritage of the Future symbol to take home upon graduation

A new symbol has been added to the range of memorabilia that members of the MOME community can receive as they reach various milestones in their university careers. This new emblem, which reinforces a sense of belonging, is a turned and machined bronze item with a polished surface based on the letter ‘O’ in MOME’s logo. Designed by MOME MA teacher Krisztián Ádám at the initiative of Rector József Fülöp, this symbol will be awarded to all graduates at all levels along with the diplomas starting in 2024.

Iconic Frigyes Pogány statue finds new home

The Frigyes Pogány Terrace has been inaugurated at the MOME Campus, providing a new home for the bust of former distinguished rector of the University of Applied Arts. Ybl Miklós Prize and State Prize-winning architect, art historian, city planner, aesthete, set designer, and organiser of monument protection and registry in Budapest Frigyes Pogány served as a notable rector of the University of Applied Arts between 1964 and 1974.

MOME launches its Future Heritage programme

Whose footsteps are we following in when entering the MOME Campus? Who has been shaping MOME over the decades and what legacy are we carrying on? The MOME Future Heritage programme may answer these questions, whether for staff that have been with us for decades or new students. We can get a glimpse into our shared history through works of art and installations embodying our heritage, many of which are displayed across the Campus. The sculptures and signs pay homage to some exceptional figures who had shaped the University’s life and role in the Hungarian and Central European design scene.