Danpeng
Cai

Projects

Danpeng Cai – ANT

Design Research for Digital Innovation (EPFL+ECAL Lab)

Danpeng Cai – ANT

by Danpeng Cai

ANT (Advancing neurofeedback in tinnitus) is a multidisciplinary research project focused on improving neurofeedback therapy for tinnitus. The design research part looked to establish a systematic process for the development of visual stimuli in this context. Through a series of iterative studies, this work aimed to optimize neurofeedback protocols, challenge traditional notions and oversights in the field, and develop comprehensive design guidelines. The project, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), integrates insights in design (EPFL+ECAL Lab), cognitive psychology (Bern University of Applied Sciences and University of Fribourg), and clinical neuroscience (University and University Hospital Zurich), paving the way for future advances in neurofeedback therapy.

ON 2040 - MASTER PRODUCT DESIGN

PRODUCT DESIGN

ON 2040 - MASTER PRODUCT DESIGN

with Christophe Guberan, Camille Blin

Following a collaboration with the Swiss avant-garde brand On, ECAL is proud to present the interdisciplinary work carried out jointly by the 2nd year students of the Product Design, Photography and Type Design Masters.

Danpeng Cai – TEXTure

PRODUCT DESIGN

Danpeng Cai – TEXTure

with Augustin Scott de Martinville, Camille Blin

TEXTure is a fingerprint for physical objects that integrate information through a texture on their surface. It converts encoded texts to assigned machine-readable textures, which were once relatively arbitrary. Inspired by the Turing pattern, a reaction-diffusion system portrays how nature brings uniqueness to each creation, TEXTure can develop automatically and individuate each product through fabricating processes like 3D printing. An embedded fingerprint enables industrial products to move toward full life cycle traceability. It has a high potential for phone-scannable accessibility, anti-counterfeiting, extended producer responsibility, recycling, vintage markets, etc.

Ecal×Mini Rethinking the Wheel

PRODUCT DESIGN

Ecal×Mini Rethinking the Wheel

with Christophe Guberan

"Rethinking the Wheel" – a series of projets on steering wheels. Will we be controlling our cars through voice recognition in future? With a soft toy? How about a pizza box? The digital transformation and electrification of cars has opened up a world of possibilities at the wheel. MINI’s design team and ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne have collaborated closely on a sophisticated design study to develop unexpected ideas for the future of steering wheels. Under the direction of ECAL tutors Camille Blin and Christophe Guberan, Master students in Product Design have addressed the topic and come up with spectacular designs, developing, improving and ultimately achieving their vision in ongoing consultation with Christian Bauer, Head of Interior Design at MINI. The result: nine innovative and surprising designs that question existing shapes and materials – and, as such, the way in which we might interact with our cars in the future – with a lot of creativity.