Richard Authier. Design and industry in Northern Vaud

A talented draughtsman and industrial designer-builder by trade, Authier joined Paillard in 1947 and remained with the company until his retirement in 1988, a career spanning more than 40 years. He designed typewriters, cameras and record players, as well as complete workstations and exhibition stands. From the 1970s onwards, in addition to his position as head of design at HPI, he pursued a freelance career, designing chronographs for Omega and studies of electric shavers for Braun. His work dates back to the Glorious Thirties and is marked by the advent of new technologies (computers in office automation) and new materials (plastic). A hard worker, Richard Authier was always thinking globally, with an eye to end users. As a result, he contributed to advertising posters, instructions for use and packaging. His work, often credited to the name of the company, won international awards. A book will showcase this research work, highlighting the person of Richard Authier and all the products he designed.

Image: Portrait of Richard Authier, with a Bolex 150 camera, n.d. © Personal archives, Richard Authier