The mission of MOME founded 143 years ago is to leverage design-based learning, research, and practical expertise to address the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. The university adopted the name of outstanding professor of the Bauhaus school László Moholy-Nagy, who believed that art and design have the power to shape society and, coupled with technological innovations, can have a more powerful impact. MOME has continued to follow in his footsteps, offering a combination of artistic creation, research, innovation, and technology that is unique in the CEE region.

The university has played a definitive role in building the Hungarian design scene, and remains a pivotal institution of domestic creative and design culture to this day. Its mission includes service to the community and the dissemination of design awareness in order to contribute to the advancement of economic and cultural ecosystems in Hungary and Eastern Central Europe.
The majority of MOME alumni play a key part in their respective fields, and the university acts as a main hub for representatives of the creative industry also on an international scale.