About
Created as a Master’s project at Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design Budapest, the work explores how design can move beyond aesthetics and act as a tool for reflection, awareness, and change. Rooted in both personal experience and research, the project aims to encourage mindful consumption and support individuals in taking control of their financial well-being.
Client
Industry
Financial Sector / Social Impact
Deliverables
Challenges
The challenge was to create a project that not only demonstrated technical and conceptual skills, but also tackled a real-world issue with meaningful impact. Unconscious spending, driven by marketing pressure and limited financial literacy, has far-reaching consequences from personal debt to environmental harm. Addressing this required translating a complex, often avoided topic into something approachable and engaging. A key barrier was the Ostrich Effect, the tendency to avoid confronting financial realities. The project needed to shift this perspective, reframing financial awareness as empowering rather than intimidating.
The process
The project began with in-depth research into consumer behavior, psychology, and spending patterns, forming the foundation for a clear and intentional direction. Through an iterative process of experimentation and close collaboration with professors, multiple concepts were developed and refined. The final direction emerged through a fascination with mixed media, combining physical installation, data visualization, and augmented reality.
The installation was built around symbolic mannequins representing wants and needs, using color, iconography, and contrast to visualize internal conflict.
An accompanying website extended the experience, allowing users to explore the topic further and receive a personalized budget analysis, while the full interactive experience remained tied to the physical installation.
The result was an interactive installation that transformed financial awareness into a tangible, engaging experience. Through augmented reality and personalized data visualization, viewers gained insight into their own spending habits, turning an often uncomfortable topic into an accessible and reflective moment.
The outcome
The project demonstrated how design can bridge the gap between awareness and action. Presented at the Master’s Graduation Show, it met both academic and artistic expectations while contributing to a broader conversation around mindful consumption. Beyond the exhibition, the work had real impact encouraging behavioral change and helping individuals take steps toward more conscious financial decisions.
