Ernő Rubik (b.1944) is a Hungarian architect, inventor, and professor best known for creating the Rubik’s Cube (1974,) one of history’s most popular puzzles. His work has influenced mathematics, design, and problem-solving education worldwide.
Born in Budapest, Hungary, Rubik studied architecture at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (1962–67) and interior design at the Hungarian Academy of Applied Arts (1967–71.) While teaching design at the Academy, he developed the Rubik’s Cube to help students understand three-dimensional movement. The puzzle gained international fame in 1980, selling over 100 million units in three years.
Rubik later founded Rubik Studio (1984,) designing new puzzles, including Rubik’s Magic and Rubik’s Snake. He has been active in education and innovation, promoting science and mathematics through initiatives like the Beyond Rubik’s Cube project. He received numerous honors, including the Hungarian Order of Merit (2010,) for contributions to design and education.
His publications include Rubik’s Cubic Compendium (1988,) exploring the cube’s mechanics and solutions, and Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All (2020,) reflecting on creativity, problem-solving, and his journey as an inventor.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Erno Rubik
Our whole life is solving puzzles.
—Erno Rubik
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