METU collaboration with the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture project

In March 2022, Budapest Metropolitan University started working together with Veszprém-Balaton 2023 European Capital of Culture (ECoC). Within the framework of the cooperation, seven smaller projects will be implemented until the Fall of 2022, including three large-scale concepts, ranging from graphic design solutions to design and interior architecture projects, as well as research work in the field of theoretical art management. 

The key objectives of the Veszprém-Balaton-2023 program are in line with the METU myBRAND philosophy in several aspects. In 2020, Budapest Metropolitan University introduced a new category: the University of Creative Industries, which refers to both the unique portfolio-based training method on the market, the professional mission of the university, and also to the creative environment, which is one of most prominent characteristics of METU’s community. The knowledge base of METU's faculty and students and the myBRAND teaching method provide a broad spectrum of services that is unique in the field of higher education in Hungary, including arts education.  

The university’s unique mentor-student method will be used to implement the joint Budapest Metropolitan University and Veszprém-Balaton 2023 project, which will result in cross-disciplinary studies and conceptual designs within the Faculty of Arts. A total of seven working groups are working on implementation of the above projects in parallel. The foundations of the projects are based on field visits, familiarisation with the municipalities and cultural institutions participating in the EKF programme, and live, personal contact with the players of the region and the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 project management.  

Projects of METU graphic design students  

One of the two graphic design METU student project groups has produced creative concept designs for installations and visual language systems, involving townships participating in the Veszprém-Balaton 2023 programme. 

These designs were created by revisiting smaller works based on pictograms to larger-scale ideas that could be used as art installations, to find new, eye-catching, yet coherent ways to indicate which municipalities are participating in the 2023 project. The concepts were created taking the Veszprém- Balaton 2023 design criteria into account. 

Under the mentorship of METU professors, a team of graphic design students is also working on a publication that will tell the story of Veszprém and the region, with a focus on innovative technological possibilities and creative printing solutions.  

The concept designs produced by both project groups were first presented to the European Capital of Culture's management during the summer. The best ideas were selected and after further development, the results will be presented to the wider public in Autumn 2022.  



"We have seen 19 presentations of METU undergraduate and graduate students introducing exciting visual solutions to represent the Capital of Culture project's settlement names, creating a specific, unique visual sign language focused on the participating municipalities. Both the clean pictogram markings and the melodic line solutions based on complex sound sequences were fresh and innovative approaches. The presentations were characterized by elements of youth engagement, playfulness and systematic thinking. We hope to see the presented designs in 2023 after implementation." shared Andrea Szabó, Art Project Manager of METU’s Creative Industry Agency. 

In addition to the publication and the boundary signs, spatial composition concepts are also being developed. Students participating in the integrated art course during the Spring semester created a variety of designs for an interactive measuring device. The primary aim of the installation is to engage visitors in an experiential way, but in addition, measuring the number of visitors attending the various Veszprém-Balaton 2023 events is also a key focus. From all designs prepared by the students, a design called ‘Trellis Lighting’ was chosen as winner, which is sustainable and mobile solution that can provide data to the organizers through visitor engagement at different locations on a daily basis.   

Projects by METU interior architecture and design students  

Information points are also being created for six institutions in Veszprém with the help of METU students, which are uniform yet adapted to the locations. The conceptual designs of the information points will be placed at or near the entrances of the institutions actively involved in the cultural life of Veszprém. The main aim of the designs is to inform visitors about programs and future events.  

Design and art management studies for museums  

The main venues of the VEB2023 programmes are the Művészetek Háza, the Laczkó Dezső Museum, and the exhibition space of the Archdiocese of Veszprém. METU’s Art and Design Management MA professors and students will work together with the institutions to research and work out ideas, methods and opportunities. The collaboration will result in the birth of three studies. 

Under faculty mentorship and based on criteria agreed upon with the professional management of the museums, students will examine the collections and operation of the exhibition spaces in question. Their research and work will help the institutions to reach young people, integrate family-friendly aspects, develop ideas for museum education and explore ways of implementing a project approach to ensure the success of their programs and exhibitions in 2023. The intellectual products, the studies and design concepts that are born as results will be available to all after the project has ended.  

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