Meet the ED Awards 25 Jury – Péter Vasvári (Hungary)

Péter Vasvári is a designer, educator, author, curator, and passionate advocate for elevating graphic design as a respected discipline globally. He is the Founder of the Hungarian Logo Society and the Hungarian Logo Award, two initiatives that celebrate and advance the art of logo design in Hungary and beyond.

Péter’s academic journey includes studies in cartooning, video filmmaking, and visual education, culminating in a teaching diploma that reflects his lifelong commitment to sharing knowledge. Over the years, he has mentored countless students and professionals, shaping the next generation of creative talent.

In addition to his educational endeavors, Péter is a prolific curator and publisher. He has authored and overseen influential publications, such as Hungarian Logos, Hungarian Graphic Design TOP 100, and the Hungarian Logo Award 2024 books, which spotlight the outstanding contributions of Hungarian graphic designers. His work highlights the cultural and professional significance of graphic design as an integral part of the global creative community.

With his extensive experience and commitment to design, Péter Vasvári brings valuable perspectives to the European Design Awards jury. His dedication to the field helps ensure the competition highlights the diversity and creativity of European design.

Q: What makes the European Design Awards special to you?
A: The European Design Awards are special to me because they are able to convey the visual culture of more than 40 countries on one platform. Observing and respecting Europe’s cultural, artistic roots is very important to me. Its outstanding value lies in its diversity. Appreciating and presenting this is a very significant value.
It is important to highlight, which adds great value, that the jury consists of 21 design experts from 21 different European countries. Being a member of this community is a great honor and responsibility.

Q: What excites you most about European design today?
A: European design has always been inclusive. Innovating, inventive, integrating. European and distant artistic movements have always had a great influence on the creators living here. Now, an eclectic way of expression using the attributes required by design is typical, which represents a global, almost identical trend(s) in its visual appearances.
Although the opposite is often true, for example, in the case of the image of a national museum, or even an old-fashioned brewer the display of a style appropriate to the given nation – typical of the region –  in the design is very special.
Today, identical schemes – design elements based on aesthetic or other globally applied aspects – are characteristic. Nowadays, what is exciting is that you can often see in a work that it was made for the Scandinavian or even the Mediterranean region, for example in logo-, identity design or even packaging design.
What excites me personally in European design at the moment is the inventiveness of the unique, smart, clean aesthetic solutions. I prefer new, unique and imaginative creations that have never been seen before… And this is very typical of the European approach, this is one of the strong virtues of the region!

Q: Is there a particular trend or approach in design that you think represents the future of creativity in Europe?
A: I think that today there are basic trends, patterns that are characteristic of Europe – as a whole – that we apply visually in graphic design. The use of very clean forms, even non-figurative, but exciting additional elements as background elements. It gives a special prestige value if we use a font designed by a contemporary type designer for a task.
The current trend is currently based on the endless possibilities of geometric and abstract forms. Let’s use it in the present and maybe this trend is already at the gates of the future now…

Q: What advice would you give to designers aspiring to stand out in a competition like the European Design Awards?
A: The backbone and expertise of the European Design Awards’ jury are made up of excellent professionals as creators, designers, design critics, publishers, editors, authors, curators, researchers and academics.
Participation in such an international competition is a big step forward. It is a fact that the objective community of the international jury strengthens the objective value of the award. It confirms that we receive uniform and objective feedback that what we have created is understandable, authentic, outstanding. It raises our work to a higher level, strengthens the professional standard. A motivating force. We receive more attention in Europe and around the world. This allows us to get customers even from the other side of the world.
It is a huge prestige to participate in international competitions and win medals. This is attractive for future clients if you are an award-winning designer. It is a worthy entry for new and old clients based on a confident and reliable partnership. It is definitely profitable in the long run!