I studied architecture, interior design, furniture design and design management at Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design in Budapest, Hungary.
Upon graduating from the Department of Architecture in 2007 I moved to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) where I spent 13 years witnessing and participating in the city's rapid growth. In the meantime I continued my studies and received my masters degree in Design Management in 2009.
My earliest professional experiences range from designing small scale architectural projects, such as high end villas working for a boutique architectural firm, BEAD Architects, to designing skyscrapers and master plans working for RMJM, an international architectural firm.
In 2010 I moved to property development, and worked for Meraas Holding, a Dubai Government owned property development firm as a design manager for 7 years. I was managing the design of mega scale master plans (CityWalk), islands (Jumeirah Bay Island, Bluewaters Island), and the architecture, interior design and landscape design of 5 star hotels and resorts (Bvlgari Resort and Residences, Caesars Palace Hotel and Serviced Apartments).
2015 was a turning point in my career. I won a national urban furniture design competition “Urban Commissions” by Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Dubai Design District with my design proposal: “IDO bench”. This success led me to slowly shift my focus on furniture design and creative design projects.
In 2017 I co-founded and managed the region's most progressive design gallery and studio of that time with Apical Reform until 2020: AR. Gallery. We were collaborating with local emerging designers and international design product brands on exhibitions, off-site public art installations and interior design projects. Our space was located in the hearth of Dubai's cultural and design hub: Dubai Design District.
After closing the gallery officially and as covid travel restrictions eased up I started traveling while working on my individual projects under my own brand Anna Szonyi Design, designing furniture and products for brands; high-end residential, hospitality, F&B and retail architecture and interior projects for private or corporate clients, as well as collaborating with and advising design startups.
My designs won several international design awards and I have a registered patent as well.
When I design my aim is to create beautiful, unique, efficient and functional spaces and objects through research and experimentation with systems, forms and materials.
My work process is based on an idea-driven methodology which allows the final design to be original, aesthetically stunning, intelligently designed that functions well and people enjoy.
