A Hungarian global success has been achieved at Red Dot, the world’s most prestigious communication design competition, Graphasel Design Studio announced.
Puskás Aréna received the award for its wayfinding system and visual identity.
Graphasel Design Studio has received recognition from the 24-member jury of internationally renowned experts for the third consecutive year, including this year’s award.
The Hungarian team won in the wayfinding category, where no Hungarian creator had previously received recognition.
The construction of the arena was overseen by Balázs Fürjes, Government Commissioner and State Secretary responsible for the development of Budapest and its agglomeration. Fürjes said that five key criteria had been given to the designers when shaping the interior world of the arena:
the arena should be world-class on the inside as well;
the interior design should be both visually impressive and user-friendly;
it should create an exciting meeting point between past and future;
it should be timeless;
and it should be distinctly Hungarian.
All of this was achieved at a world-class level, as demonstrated by the Red Dot Award, the State Secretary added.
Last Year, Stockholm’s Transport System Won This Award
The Red Dot Design Award was founded in 1955, and since then, every year, design and communication experts have selected the winners from among thousands of entries. In the category in which Puskás Aréna was awarded this year, last year’s winner was Stockholm’s public transport system.
Wayfinding refers to the internal information system of buildings, which helps visitors navigate and find their way using clear, easy-to-follow signs and symbols. Visitor guidance is not merely a system of markings; it also plays a defining role in shaping the visual identity of a public building.
The Same Company Also Designed the Visual Identity of the 2017 FINA World Championships
Puskás Aréna was opened to the public in November 2019 with the Hungary–Uruguay inaugural match. The arena was built as an investment by the Centre for Priority Government Investments Nonprofit Zrt. (KKBK), with Magyar Építő and ZÁÉV acting as general contractors. Since January 2020, the role of KKBK has been fulfilled by the Budapest Development Centre (BFK), established under the leadership of Balázs Fürjes.
During the construction of the stadium, KÉSZ Ipari Gyártó Kft. manufactured and installed the steel structure, while the structural construction works were carried out by West Hungária Bau Kft., Épkar Zrt., Bayer Construct Zrt., Sankó-Ép Kft. and Épszerk-Pannónia Invest Kft.
Technical supervision was provided by Óbuda Group and Főber Zrt., while the design works were carried out by Közti Zrt. The lead designer of the stadium was György Skardelli.
In recent years, Graphasel Design Studio has received numerous international recognitions, including two Red Dot Design Awards for the label of Opera Gin Budapest and the packaging designs of Dubicz Winery. The studio’s work also includes the design of Google’s Budapest office, the complete visual identity of the 2017 FINA World Championships, the tourism branding of Budapest and Hungary, as well as the visual identities of several confectioneries, restaurants and hotels.
