IZ OBRTNIČKE RADIONICE Branimir Putnik Budak

Guest Branimir Putnik BudakMay 3, 2026

Branimir Putnik Budak

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

The path from fashion design to stonemasonry is not a common one. Branimir Putnik Budak, a stonemason, found his calling in stone after a university degree in textile technologies and fashion design, unable to secure a job in his chosen field during the 2012-2013 economic crisis. He describes how stone 'always somehow threaded through my life,' drawing him in from an early age, even spending time with sculptors during his studies. This conversation explores the unique blend of artistry and physical endurance his profession demands. Budak offers a grounded perspective on the challenges of traditional craft today, and the systemic changes required to truly value and sustain skilled labor in a modern economy. You'll walk away considering what it means to build a career with your hands, and how society can better support the people who do.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Branimir Putnik Budak, a textile technologies and fashion design graduate, couldn't find a job in his field during the 2012-2013 crisis. The path to a fulfilling career isn't always linear; sometimes, the best move is to pivot to a demanding craft you've been drawn to since childhood, regardless of your formal education.

Even while studying fashion design, Branimir spent hours observing academic sculptor Zoran Jurić work with stone, and his stepfather was a stonemason. The most powerful career signals often come not from formal education, but from the quiet, persistent pull of a material or a craft you encounter in your personal life.

Branimir's decision to pursue a stonemason qualification after earning a university degree was seen by some as 'beyond all reason.' Yet, a commitment to mastering a tangible skill, even if it means an unconventional academic path, often proves more resilient in the job market than chasing a degree in an oversaturated field.

Branimir emphasizes that stonemasonry is not just about the artistic shaping of stone, but also the 'artisan side' of setting and installing it, which requires 'putting your back into it.' The true value of a craft lies in the seamless integration of creative vision with demanding physical execution.

In Austria, stonemasons are categorized as 'heavy physical workers' with benefited working years and specialized health insurance. Branimir points out that in Croatia, without such support, most stonemasons don't reach full retirement but end up on disability. Society needs to acknowledge and adapt its social safety nets for physically demanding trades, or face the cost of premature attrition.

Branimir states he would 'without problem' pay a higher health insurance premium if it guaranteed immediate access to specialists for occupational injuries like back pain. For physically demanding professions, the value of health coverage isn't just the price, but its relevance and responsiveness to specific job-related risks.

Branimir struggles to find stonemasons and advocates for bringing 'experts from the real sector' into vocational schools, noting that many current teachers lack practical experience. To address the shortage of skilled trades, education must move beyond theoretical instruction and integrate the hands-on knowledge of active practitioners.

Beyond his commercial work installing stone for construction and making tombstones, Branimir dedicates time to sculpting, currently creating a Vukovar water tower from Macedonian grey stone. Maintaining a personal artistic practice alongside a demanding trade is not just a hobby; it's how a craftsman refines their skill and feeds their creative spirit.

Explore further

ScenariosBusiness challenges CardsEducational cards TimelineTopic evolution