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MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

LET THE DATASET CHANGE YOUR MINDSET

by Thomas Gaudin, Olivia Capol, Livia Schmid, Emilie Maier

This project revolves around a fully functional data visualization experience and graphical interface, designed and programmed by second-year Bachelor students in Media & Interaction Design as part of a course taught by Gaël Hugo. This exercise begins with the following reflection: "Fun" datasets concern topics that are of personal interest, and can be used to answer unexpected questions and explore relationships that aren’t immediately intuitive. Perhaps you start with a question or hypothesis, and then find a dataset to prove (or disprove) your theory. Or, you might even generate your own dataset using web scraping techniques or an open API. In fact, creating your own dataset enables you to collect, label, and prepare a clean dataset. - Kindra Cooper

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Gary Sandoz – Reminix

by Gary Sandoz

By delegating our life experiences to digital media processed by algorithms, memory is no longer solely human. Reminix explores the emotional dimension and the future of our fragmented memories through a device that scans and analyzes photographic slides, acting as an ephemeral backup of a past life in the absence of the author's testimony. In a spatial contemplation, the image materialized and rendered in 3D, accompanied by generative narration, reconstitutes an alternative past with each activation. This interactive experience reactivates the memory and creates a bridge between the user and the narrative potential of the image, while questioning the fragility, preservation, trust, and generation of our memories by machines.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Théo Déchanez – Vulcan

by Théo Déchanez

Vulcan is an immersive journey to the heart of telluric powers. It is a tribute to volcanologists and volcanoes, exploring themes such as human smallness and the fascination of the immensity of natural forces. Divided into two parts, the narrative opposes the vision of a volcanologist getting as close as possible to a crater, to that of the god of fire, forges and volcanoes, the eponym of the experience. Vulcan is inspired by the work of Haroun Tazieff and the couple Katia and Maurice Krafft, and is an extension of a reflection begun during my thesis on the reconstruction of myths using digital tools.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Emma Grosu – ESC

by Emma Grosu

Video games allow players to escape into narrative worlds where they hold ‘all the power.’ In ESC, the game's character seeks to escape his own reality. This reversal examines the notions of freedom and constraint in video games, ironically highlighting the limits of our existence. What would happen if a character became aware of their situation, realizing that they are not in control of their movements but are, instead, imprisoned by them? ESC allowed me to explore concepts of immersion such as breaking the fourth wall and mise en abyme. Inspired by works like ‘The Truman Show’ and ‘Sword Art Online,’ I illustrated how the perception of freedom can be an illusion, both in video games and in the physical world.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Isaïa Delaplace – Azimut

by Isaïa Delaplace

Azimut is a puzzle game set in a 3D natural environment. The aim is to solve a series of riddles linked to the position of the sun in the sky. Inspired by the theme of Jun'ichiro Tanizaki's book “In Praise of Shadows”, controlling the sun becomes the central element of the gameplay. This action allows players to simply interact with the light that illuminates the Earth, solving puzzles and progressing through the experience. Through this series of increasingly complex puzzles, we can observe and feel the beauty of light and shadow in an increasingly vivid and rich environment.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Odran Jobin – What lies behind

by Odran Jobin

What Lies Behind is an immersive virtual reality experience dealing with the disproportionate scales that separate us from the immense and the minuscule. This project is based around a philosophical and personal thought; it is difficult, as human beings, to define ourselves when faced with the idea that the immense and the minuscule come together in complexities and scales that escape our perception. This experiment takes us on a journey through these scales. The aim is not to explain, but to marvel at the beauty of the inexplicable. Seated on a bench, we are led through various scenes, each gradually altering our perception of space.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Alexandre Gambarini – Echoes from the Tales

by Alexandre Gambarini

Whether it's the legend of Joan of Arc, William Tell, Che Guevara or other emblematic figures, our societies and our daily lives are partly punctuated by these tales. Echoes from the Tales is an interactive sequence that traces the life of Vasil Levski, a Bulgarian icon. By listening to his story, punctuated by strong symbolism, the sequence enables us to grasp how these stories can shape individual and collective identity. The aim of this interactive sequence is to analyze how a story can be assimilated and transformed by the individual imagination and then passed on, as well as understanding how age-old narratives such as Vasil Levski's can be hijacked by modern storytelling.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Sasha Iatsenia – LittleCubes

by Sasha Iatsenia

Today, 1 in 15 children are affected by a disorder that alters their behaviors, impacting their educational, socialization, and communication skills. LittleCubes were designed as therapeutic toys to help develop these skills through light and play. Using a cube that lights up and responds to natural gestures, therapists can create fun and engaging exercises using an intuitive app. While designing this project, I discovered that I have autistic traits, inspiring me to build a toy I would have loved as a child. My goal is to build bridges between neurotypical and neurodiverse experiences, making the world more inclusive for all. To date, I have tested the cube with more than 15 therapists and 30 children (ASD, motor deficiencies and associated disorders). I hope to continue this project after my diploma. This project is supported by Fondation Dr Combe.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Jérémie Kursner – iLand Universe

by Jérémie Kursner

iLand Universe is a project focused on the world of amusement parks where every activity is an allusion to the digital world, whether through its architecture, its scenography, or its references to the overuse of smartphones. Through an "epic" teaser, this project adopts the promotional codes of a traditional amusement park, using video as the main communication tool while playing with the "inspiring" codes of this industry from the United States. The desire to create this fantastic world stems from my passion for this universe, as well as my interest in metaphorizing digital visions into tangible concepts, thus creating mind games that continuously question the digital society in which we live.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Marius Parisod – Get-Out 4

by Marius Parisod

At the crossroads between video games and board games, Get-Out 4 is an invitation to rediscover the joy of playing together. This puzzle game, designed to be played by two or more players, encourages direct interaction and cooperation. The use of external game pieces invites players to rely on their observation and deduction skills, bringing them together in a shared experience that goes beyond screens. The design of Get-Out 4 is based on a minimalist aesthetic inspired by early video games such as Pong, Pac-Man, and Tetris. This visual simplicity not only evokes nostalgia but is strategically employed to enhance player engagement by focusing on gameplay mechanics. This project, beyond its playful aspect, offers human interaction through the lens of gaming.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Mélanie Martin – Odalys

by Mélanie Martin

Odalys is an artificial intelligence that takes the shape of a glowing doll. She is designed to respond to her owner's every wish at the touch of a button. However, she needs to be setup in a multiple ended narration where the user's choices irreversibly affect the trajectory of their relationship.The intention of the project is to expose the potential consequences of our interactions with generative AIs. The experiment also aims to highlights the over-representation of female shells to sell these products. Odalys is not a woman-object, she is the object of the system to which the user submits her. And she objects it.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY

SYNC SCREEN

with Charlotte Krieger, Jean-Vincent Simonet, Florian Pittet (Sigmasix), Vincent Jacquier, Julien Gurtner, Matthieu Minguet, Cédric Duchêne, EPFL+ECAL Lab, Giacomo Bastianelli

For a week, the first-year visual communications students worked on an installation consisting of 15 screens, accompanied by a 360° sound system developed by EPFL+ECAL Lab. This chandelier, five metres in diameter and suspended from a height of three metres, served as a support for their experiments. Using music specially composed and spatialised for the occasion, the students explored the dynamics of sound both visually and in movement.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Much Faster / Much Slower

with Alain Bellet

Fictional mobile apps based on the "Much Faster / Much Slower" theme, offering new ways of consulting, communicating, creating, playing, discovering and learning. Students in their 2nd year of Bachelor Media & Interaction Design designed a dedicated experience and graphic interface via interactive prototypes on Figma.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

It's About Time

with Angelo Benedetto

Digital clocks with no temporal reference points, simple representations of the passage of time. Developed on the principle of screensavers, these projects are programmed to evolve graphically according to the time of day. Selection of projects created in the first-year Bachelor Media & Interaction Dynamic Display course with Angelo Benedetto, assisted by Sébastien Matos.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

From A to B

with Kylan Luginbühl

Video sequences realised during the 3D Graphics course led by Kylan Luginbühl. The videos interpret the From A to B theme, a direct exploration of the passage from one state to another. Projects realised during the 1st year Bachelor Media & Interaction Design.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Tribute to Masterpieces

with Elodie Anglade

Selection of animated sequences made during a 3D course directed by Elodie Anglade. The students were inspired by a painting and transcribed it into three different scenes.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY

PROJECTIONS XXL

with Sami Benhadj, Vincent Jacquier

An immersive and magnetic visual environment, created by ECAL students, illuminates the facades of the mudac and Photo Elysée building. As part of an interdisciplinary project within the Visual Communication department of ECAL, students in the Photography, Graphic Design and Media & Interaction Design Bachelors programs developed immersive video projects designed to adorn the facades of Photo Elysée.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

PHOTOGRAPHY

Anthracite

by Emma Grosu, Seraphine Sallin-Mason, Rebecca Alfandary

The Anthracite project aims to raise public awareness about the dangers of light pollution, which threatens the survival of nocturnal insects and impacts biodiversity in Switzerland. Through a carefully crafted edition blending scientific outreach and photography, the project strikes a delicate balance between poetry and urgency. Anthracite also takes shape in two additional formats: a visual installation made up of striking images, and a teaser video. These mediums of awareness immerse the audience by adopting the perspective of an insect, inviting viewers to directly experience the effects of human-caused pollution. Ultimately, the project seeks to inspire greater protection for the vulnerable insects at risk.

INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

A Third Hand – Creative Applications for Robotics

with Alain Bellet, Andrea Anner, Thibault Brevet, Martin Hertig

Robotic arms have long been a common sight in many industries. They are currently making a rapid entry into art and design studios and practices. Yet, at the same time, difficulties remain in accessing the workflows and work methods demanded by these machines given a clear lack of reference resources suited for this community. The same applies to Art and Design schools, which are increasingly investing in this type of equipment, often without having the resources to run it. This research project uses applied case studies to explore and define a set of exemplary work methods, capable of both informing and inspiring future users.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Adryan Barrilliet – Will I Exist Within You?

by Adryan Barrilliet

Will I Exist Within You? is an immersive exploration of the human duality between the desire for connection and the fear of suffering from it. The existential journey follows a torn individual, exploring how social interactions contribute to shaping their essence. By delving into profound themes such as the search for meaning, loneliness, fear and love, the experience, which is divided into four parts, questions our relationship with others, individuality and self-construction. Will I Exist Within You? is an extension of a reflection that began with my thesis work on the influence of video games on personal development, specifically the para-social bonds that are established between players and their accompanying characters.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Bogdan Nastase – FULCRUM

by Bogdan Nastase

Designed for the field of photojournalism, FULCRUM addresses privacy concerns surrounding the publication of photographs. Whilst many photo-journalists would agree that blurring or censoring faces tampers with important historical documents, protecting sources is ultimately a core journalistic principle. Given today’s ubiquitous data scraping and face recognition algorithms, legislation aimed at mitigating potential abuse remains outpaced by the swift progress of technology. FULCRUM offers a contemporary solution to the ethical debate between photojournalists and the public. By masking subjects’ faces with AI generated ones, FULCRUM ensures non-destructive anonymisation that simultaneously safeguards the identity of the individuals depicted and the photographic quality of the image.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Elina Crespi – Metamorphoses

by Elina Crespi

Metamorphoses is a video game installation that lets you develop your world by exploring its different dimensions. It is an organic machine that represents a harmony of opposites, a duality between machine and human. There is a balance to be found: should the machine adapt to the human or the human to the machine? Human to human? Machine to machine? By participating in Metamorphoses, players are invited to create connections by plugging in a jack cable to solve enigmas. They actively engage in the narrative and interact with the environment. The organic machine embodies a duality by making natural and technological elements coexist in an interactive and changing environment, thereby prompting introspection about our own world.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Lily Rose Hold – Dotto

by Lily Rose Hold

Dotto is a digital puzzle game that draws inspiration from classic dot-to-dot games. It combines connecting dots with the satisfaction of creating vector graphics. As you navigate through the collection of puzzles, you embark on a journey of discovery. Each connected dot unveils a part of the underlying artwork, gradually bringing it to life with every connection. A blend of satisfying gameplay and the celebration of vector Illustration, Dotto offers an experience for puzzle enthusiasts and those who love graphic illustration alike.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Julien Caulet – Groove Électrique : l’Odyssée

by Julien Caulet

My project is a tool that allows a musician, in this case Iya Ko, to offer their community a privileged role in the process of organising a concert. By using Instagram in unconventional ways, Groove Electric: The Odyssey presents a narrative in the form of an interactive series that invites the audience to participate in the concert’s implementation process until the day of the performance. This project is aimed at artists who want to strengthen and expand their community. The goal is to create an original platform that enables the artist to develop new “human” connections with their audience while promoting their work. This closeness should nourish both the artist and the community, which will play a central role in the creative process of certain projects.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Tickie Bindner – City

by Tickie Bindner

Sazen City immerses us into the collective landscape of our memories. Each participant takes part in the experience by exploring a territory, then sending digital postcards that generate a dynamic and imaginary map. Unlike photos of panoramas or cities, these digital cards depict memories, universal moments and emotions, revealing a new form of epistolary exchange that is more suited to our digital spaces. Inspired by Italo Calvino’s Invisible Cities, Sazen City employs machine learning to co-create a collective space. As it evolves, this shared landscape questions the individuality of our memories and the role of artificial imagination in our digital environments.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Arthur Lucchesi – RWM MK1

by Arthur Lucchesi

The RWM MK1 is an experimental electronic synthesiser that captures and transforms radio signals, creating intriguing sounds and soundscapes. This instrument interacts with terrestrial and cosmic electromagnetic radiation, enabling us to listen to distant echoes from the far reaches of the universe. It consists of two PCB plates with a tangible interface for real-time interaction with these waves. Musicians can also add sound effects, enhancing the experience. My project is inspired by Jocelyn Bell’s discovery of pulsars, NASA’s SETI program, the Wow Signal and the works of musicians such as Tim Hecker and Gustav Holst.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Niki Zaal – Waazo

by Niki Zaal

Waazo is a mobile game that connects unknown participants for a social and friendly experience. It is an experience where virtual reality and reality come together. Today, smartphones and social networks connect us with people far away, but they can also separate us from our physical surroundings. This interactive game uses this hyper-connectivity to reconnect people in a specific location, paradoxically. The game draws inspiration from our childhood games, such as Where’s Waldo? or Cluedo. Using their phone, each participant explores the people around them to discover unknown individuals. Subtle clues like their posture, mood or main accessory will guide the player in this quest for encounters.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Paul Dorsaz – MR

by Paul Dorsaz

With GlobalCom, generate your business’s visual identity thanks to the power of AI! The recent emergence of services like ChatGPT or DALL·E prompts us to question the role of AI in design processes. In a reality where an advertising designer inevitably turns to the web for inspiration, the final product often appears similar to others. What would logos and visual identities look like if the initial design was driven by an AI, whose dataset is already saturated with overproduction and mimicry? GlobalCom, a product of this automated process, reveals that these tools are still too naive to operate independently. However, could they be employed as catalysts to stimulate the creativity of designers?

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Salomé Dotter – Fragments choisis

by Salomé Dotter

Playmobil and minesweeper. Bag of marbles and MSN. Malabar and BlackBerry. Facebook and heartbreak. Disco ball and high school wall. Fragments Choisis is a poetic assembly of memories, an attempt at immunity against oblivion. On a shelf, the traces of the passing of time. Twenty-three physical objects have been carefully selected to embody reminiscences from early childhood to adulthood. Visitors are invited to scan whatever they like with their smartphones, to bring a story to life and lead them on an excavation of the virtual space on offer. Through this archaeological process, my intention is to crystallise contemporary nostalgia into a mosaic of shared memories. What fragments would you choose?

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Sétay - Singuliers

with Sami Benhadj

Music video made by Julie Turin and Charlotte Pralong during the second year video course in Visual Communication Bachelor.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Triptychs

with Benjamin Muzzin

Selection of animated sequences made during a 3D course directed by Benjamin Muzzin. The students were inspired by a painting and transcribed it into three different scenes.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Catharsis - RestoGastro

with Sami Benhadj

Music video made by Théo Déchanez and Viktor Gagné during the second year video course in Visual Communication Bachelor.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Chelan - London

with Sami Benhadj

Music video made by Jérémie Kursner and Alexandre Gambarini during the second year video course in Visual Communication Bachelor.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

Realtime Narratives

with Valerio Meschi

During the Realtime Narratives course, second-year students had to create a real-time narrative experience using Unreal Engine software. Based on the theme of "Chrysalis", the students developed the scenario, the graphic assets and the interactions. The aim of the project was to raise students awareness of the use of 3D realtime engines and the various links with other software specific to each stage of development.

GRAPHIC DESIGN

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

LA POSTE × ECAL

with La Poste, Vincent Jacquier, Angelo Benedetto

For the Swiss Post Office, students from ECAL's Bachelor Graphic Design and Bachelor Media & Interaction Design are creating a postage stamp based on artificial intelligence. Thanks to augmented reality, Metascape transports Swiss Post users into an imaginary and poetic universe on the way to a destination that remains elusive.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

ARC - Dynamic Identity

with Angelo Benedetto

Dynamic identity for the fictional artistic ceramics festival ARC (Artistic Revolution of Ceramics) proposed by Livia Schmid as part of the Dynamic Display course led by Angelo Benedetto.

MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN

HIFF - Dynamic Identity

with Angelo Benedetto

Dynamic identity for the fictional indie film festival HIFF (Haze Indie Film Festival)  proposed by Valère Zen-Ruffinen as part of the Dynamic Display course led by Angelo Benedetto