The best works of the design students of Széchenyi István University have been presented in a spectacular exhibition at the University’s Science & Innovation Park in Győr, the Cube. After the opening of the exhibition, which included a fashion show, the first graduates of the Design Campus were given a farewell party.

Széchenyi István University launched its design programmes in September 2021, taking into account the latest trends in the creative industries. Future professionals - architects, designers, graphic designers - will be trained at the Faculty of Arts at the undergraduate and master's level. The last few years have proven to be the right time to launch these programmes, with numerous student successes, fruitful collaborations with other faculties and real works of art. An exhibition of the best student works has been opened at the University's Science & Innovation Park in Győr, where the programmes have found a home in the academic year just ended.

The Best of Design Campus exhibition at the Győr Science & Innovation Park of Széchenyi István University also features some unique and thought-provoking works (Photo: András Adorján)

The special exhibition opening started with a fashion show featuring the students' collections, followed by a welcome speech by Dr Krisztina Somogyi, Head of the Department of Theory and Basic Education. She stressed that, in addition to their training courses, Cube also hosts events that allow them to showcase their valuable work to the wider public of Győr. The exhibition, which opened at the end of June, features a selection of tableau, stamp and book designs, architectural compositions, architectural elements, photographic works, typography, sculptures and other specialities.

"We recently had the opportunity to view the graduation works of our graduating students in the same special space, and now we can admire the best works of young artists of all years in the same space," said Gábor U. Nagy, Vice Dean for Science and Research of the Faculty of Arts & Design and Head of the Department of Architecture. He added that the exhibition will showcase different expressions of design, not just simple objects, but culture itself.

Gábor U. Nagy, Vice Dean for Science and Research at the Faculty of Arts & Design of Széchenyi István University, Head of the Department of Architecture, Dr. Zsolt Kovács, Vice President for General and Educational Affairs, Krisztina Somogyi, Head of the Department of Theory and Basic Education and Attila Radosza, Associate Professor of the Department of Architecture and Building Design. (Photo: András Adorján)

"One of the main objectives of our university is to put modern technologies at the service of a sustainable future. This is supported by the Design Campus Competence Centre and the fact that from 1 June the Design Department will continue to operate as four independent departments - Architecture, Design, Graphic Design and Theory and Foundation Studies - strengthening and further enhancing our training and competences. We are delighted that our students and faculty are actively involved in innovative developments such as the creation of equipment and medical devices to help the Pető-method work more efficiently, which are being implemented on our MedTech Health Technology Campus. The design and graphic design professional awards we have won in recent years are further proof of the results of the collaborations between our faculties and the contribution that our talented students can make," said Dr Zsolt Kovács. The Vice President for General and Educational Affairs of the University also addressed the first graduates of the undergraduate and master's degree programmes in design at the institution, who, as he pointed out, while creating, also promote our University in the world with their professional knowledge and artistic flair. "I hope that they will return to us often and show the way for the next generations by their personal example. The over-subscription shows that there are a good number of people who would like to follow you," he said.

The first graduates of the Design Campus celebrated together (Photo: András Adorján)

"As well as focusing on innovation and competitiveness, design education offers the opportunity for creative collaborations between the local community and faculty students. The Design Campus could also play a major role in cultural and social development, and could even become an artistic hub, creating a vibrant and inspiring environment for the people of Győr. This exhibition also shows that the training contributes to the enrichment of local cultural life," said Attila Radosza, visual artist and associate professor at the Department of Architecture and Building Design. In his speech, he also pointed out that we spend our everyday lives surrounded by objects designed by designers, which means that design covers almost every aspect of life. "That is why the Design Campus focuses on the integration of art and design principles, with teachers emphasising the collaboration between students and different disciplines, while reflecting their role in the art world in their teaching," said Attila Radosza, listing the specificities of the course.

The exhibition was opened with a fashion show featuring the students' collections (Photo: András Adorján)

At the ceremony, student prizes were awarded, and finally the lecturers and fellow students said goodbye to the first graduates of the Győr design education.

Gallery of the exhibition: