INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Erwan Bouroullec
Led by the acclaimed French designer Erwan Bouroullec, the workshop 'Presque Rien' unfolded as an exploration of design possibilities within the setting of his estate and recently renovated Burgundy farm. The project envisioned an open canvas, encouraging ECAL’s Bachelor Industrial Design students, to diverge from traditional problem-solving.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Christian Spiess, Fondation USM, Théâtre de Vidy
The USM Design Grant is a study grant launched by the Fondation USM to encourage innovation by rewarding a student’s project. For the 6th edition of the USM Design Grant awarded by the USM Foundation, ECAL Bachelor Industrial Design students, under the guidance of Swiss designer Christian Spiess, were asked to design new outdoor seating for the terrace of the Théâtre de Vidy in Lausanne.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Chris Kabel
Within a one-week workshop with Designer Chris Kabel, BA Industrial Design students were asked to develop a glass for a drink of their choice, whether it was for a cocktail, a fresh beer, a classy Negroni, or simply a glass for water to quench their thirst. The final designs reflect the characteristics of the drink or emphasize how the drink is prepared, served, and drunk. All glasses were blown in the ECAL courtyard with the support of the artisans of Swiss glass manufacturer Niesenglass.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Sileo is a social design project based on the “housing first” principle, which aims to provide homeless people with a roof so that they can reintegrate society. Starting from an existing frame hut, the challenge was to design a 10m2 interior to make it a pleasant place to live at a low cost. The project consists of four individual cabins containing a bed with storage, a wardrobe, a mirror, a removable desk, a chair and shelves. All these elements have been designed in Swiss spruce wood and are arranged in the cabin in such a way as to take up as little space as possible. Two other huts serve as a common kitchen and a common bathroom. This place is intended to be supervised by a Geneva association for the homeless.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
This public shower, located on the beach, uses desalinated water, which is pumped directly from the sea. The desalination system, powered by solar energy, produces 60L of clear water per hour. The base houses a metal casing that protects all the components. Once desalinated, the water is stored in a 1000L tank. A press on the tap triggers a 10-second flow. The aim of this project is to popularise the principle of desalination by introducing it into our daily lives. The exhibition of the elements helps showcase the system to the public.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
We all know about the scourge of plastic waste in our oceans, but did you know that there is even more plastic in our soils? This is what the latest report from the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations) has revealed. Indeed, with its pots, nets, and various types of films, plastic is everywhere in the food-processing industry and our agricultural land is polluted by micro-particles. Line is a reusable and 100% natural alternative to plastic mulching film. Made from linen oiled with linseed oil, it is extremely durable and does not release any chemical particles into the soil. Its woven or folding strip systems offer great flexibility of use for various types of planting with variable spacing.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
During my previous studies in micro-engineering, my curiosity for the technical nature of production was sharpened, particularly towards the elasticity of different materials. Lari stems from research on compliant mechanisms which make use of that elasticity to provide motion, thus reducing the number of parts, simplifying production and facilitating recycling. This kitchen scale, entirely made of plastic, consists of two parts. The item to be weighed is disposed on the tray which is linked to the base by two flexible parallel beams. This allows the tray to remain level. The other part is a flexible indicator actuated by the movement of the tray which allows calibration to zero by sliding in the base.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Several problems have been mentioned to me by market sellers: there are too many separate items, the set-up time is too long, the stand is often too expensive, transportation is inconvenient, and sometimes the umbrellas fly away or get soaked with water. OneStall is a market stall. Easily assembled and disassembled, it includes a textile roof and trays to display your goods. All in one, its structure is light thanks to the aluminium profiles that can be screwed together. To prevent them from getting lost, the screws are held in place by circlips. The stand can be levelled on a sloping floor by using adjustable feet. Finally, the beaded fabric protects the vendor, the merchandise and the consumers from the sun and the rain.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
The objects are made of recycled tires, a material that is usually burned and not reused as no one knows how to reuse it. It helps protect the bike and the existing furniture. In the summer, many people use bicycles, and the space to park them quickly becomes saturated. LL Rack is an alternative system that helps create parking spots for bikes on urban furniture, such as poles or lampposts. This series of three objects can be used on larger or smaller diameters. The tires slip like a sock into a stainless-steel piece to make it difficult to steal the bike.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Brise is a lounge chair made of wood and mesh allowing for better air circulation. Nowadays, heat waves are becoming more and more frequent. The first ones to suffer are the elderly as it is harder for them to regulate their body heat. Since they spend most of their days resting, I decided to rework their chair with a focus on cooling. By replacing the foam and the traditional layers with perforated fabric, the seat reduces the contact of the material with the skin. This way, air can circulate and guarantee better cooling.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Maddalena Casadei, Stephane Halmai-Voisard
Every year more than 30 million mattresses are thrown away in Europe. Despite the establishment of dismantling centres, only half of these mattresses are recycled. Those whose materials cannot be separated end up incinerated. This is due to the excessive use of glue and the mixing of different materials. Matalàs offers an alternative to this problem by taking into account its recycling from the design stage. Designed in three parts, it facilitates the extraction of wool and springs, thus becoming part of a circular economy.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Deky is a plaid-like garment for elderly people who are often cold. Its loose and enveloping shape allows seniors to keep warm and dress effortlessly using Velcro and colour coding. It is also ideal for elderly people with limited movement: caregivers can take off the back buttons to dress the person easily. The back is shorter than the front, allowing Deky to be worn seated without inconvenience and without disrupting daily actions. The quilted fabric is made of light and warm polyester foam covered with soft and fluid gabardine. Deky is an everyday companion to facilitate the life of elderly people by keeping them warm and providing a feeling of security and comfort.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Eventa is an adapted diary that is designed for elderly people with cognitive problems, particularly relating to memory, and can be essential in enabling them to remain independent in their own home while offering complete peace of mind. On a tablet of their choice, elderly people use a digital app that enables them to contact their loved ones by text message or phone call. It also provides them with a diary that emits sounds to remind them of their daily events. The simplified keyboard is integrated into the shell of the tablet. It allows direct, non-touch navigation in the application. The device evolves as the disease worsens. In addition, caregivers and relatives can easily interact with Eventa by text message or by adding events to monitor the patient.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
During a visit at the CHUV, I noticed that there were no specific dishes for small children. Parents most often have to bring their own glasses or cutlery. This is why I created Yum, a set of tableware accessories for hospitalised children. The silicone set includes a children’s plate rim for children who can only use one arm, a holder for glass jars, and handles to slide over cutlery which help improve the child’s grip. With Yum, children are more autonomous and eating becomes more enjoyable thanks to the colours and shapes. Meals become a moment of conviviality with the handles of the cutlery that turn into playful companions!
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Used as a set or as independent accessories, the Resilience project brings together the four elements of jewellery. The main part of the research focuses on the clasp, spotlighting an element that represents the only functional aspect of the jewel. This attraction for connector elements results from the work that saw me combine the practices that materialise my daily life: design and jewellery. This story of alloys and connections is also a physical story of contrasts between the cold and resistant properties of the steel that compose it, which are attenuated by the areas intended for gripping the item of jewellery, which are made of technical ceramics. Visual and sensory contrasts thus bear witness to industrial interventions, which are generally foreign to the world of jewellery.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Every day, 1800 radiosondes are sent into the atmosphere to collect data and make weather forecasts. However, only 20% of the instruments are recovered worldwide. R2Home is a solution developed by Yohan Hadjil, EPFL student, to address this problem. It features a fully autonomous paragliding robot that navigates to a precise landing spot determined by the user. More information on www.r2ho.me. My project focuses on the development of the shell that protects the mechanism from the cold, the rain and shocks. It is mainly made of expanded polypropylene. The shell consists of two parts that can be assembled using PET pieces. All materials can be easily recycled. Intuitive design, easily replaceable parts, environmentally friendly and reusable, R2Home is the next generation of radiosondes.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Jabal is a collection of plastic-free, repairable and recyclable mountain jackets. It consists of a jacket and a down jacket. The fastening has been redesigned with a fold system, without zips. It also allows the width of the jacket to be adjusted according to the number of layers worn. Jabal is made entirely of durable materials: high-density woven cotton, waxed cords and aluminium fasteners. The seams are heat-sealed with natural adhesive. The down jacket is filled with milkweed, a plant that is as light as feather but twice as insulating. No chemicals or watering are required for its production. The materials can be separated for easy recycling. Resin-impregnated patches are provided to repair snags.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Newo is a kit for newborns made of Swiss wool. The product is inspired by the Finnish Baby Box, a kit subsidised by the state to help young mothers in need. Through this product, the goal is to enhance the value of Swiss wool, which has been in crisis for several years after the loss of its main customer, the Swiss army. This material needs regular new demand, which could be satisfied if the Swiss Confederation endorsed Newo.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
“I want the most comfortable stoner couch.” Eli asked me to create a stoner couch for his brand ERL. I chose to break down this bulky and all too often opaque object. Layers of covering are added on a tubular steel structure. The sofa is thus superimposed with different textiles, materials and volumes as if it were clothing. In the summer, a single thin layer is sufficient, while in the winter, you put on your puffy jacket. With each new layer, there is a new object. You can go from a Butterfly lounger to an upholstered armchair that you can sink into. The choice of covering can be both functional and stylistic.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
By seeking to respond to the same constraints as my father, a custom furniture manufacturer, I have defined a system and a standardised production logic. Versatile is a modular furniture system that can be adapted for various domestic uses. The project addresses the evolution of the family business and the question of its transmission. It concludes four years of study in industrial design by mixing craft and design, heritage and learning.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Pragmatic Gear is a brand that recovers scraps and end of rolls from various companies in Switzerland. The patterns are designed to be waste-free. I experimented with this by first presenting bags and then, in a second phase, I integrated garments for my degree. Each typology of garment and bag is constructed in the same way but with different textiles, resulting in a variety of falls and uses. The pieces are exclusive and limited in number according to arrivals.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Mano is a workbench designed to fit into the cargo area of a cargo bike. By offering a storage space as well as a work surface, it helps transform the bicycle into a mobile workshop. Faced with the various nuisances caused by road traffic, cities are increasingly favouring soft mobility over conventional vehicles. Mano offers an alternative to commercial vehicles, allowing craftspeople to move around the city without hindrance.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Maddalena Casadei, Stephane Halmai-Voisard
Interested by objects as evidence of a specific civilisation and culture, I returned to Provence to identify what characterises my culture and what underlies my identity. Mistral is an ode to the sun, to shadows, to strolling, and to time that lasts. I carried out research around a natural material: the straw. I met a hat-maker who passed on her knowledge and skills to me, and I designed a collection of objects that play with shadows, resulting in the creation of hats that are easy to carry around, so that you can take a bit of the South wherever you go.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Let us consider time as a tool. In a space-time, a series of events, phenomena and transformations take place. Consuming seasonal products means respecting the natural life cycle of agricultural products. Fermentation is a preservation process that improves the nutrients of fruits and vegetables over time while developing an umami taste. This project consists of a series of three jars for lacto-fermentation. The shape and function refers to the hourglass. In one direction, liquid and solid combine: fermentation is in progress. In the other, they are separated for easy serving. Accompanied by a booklet with ten recipes, it is used following a seasonal cycle to prolong and enhance our pleasure when consuming our favourite products.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Both for the person who dares to take a quick nap and for the envious colleague who would also like a little shuteye, dozing off at the office is often seen in a negative light. The need to hide from the gaze of others to take a nap was the starting point of this project which concludes my years of study at ECAL. This project features a deckchair equipped with textile sails that allows the user to withdraw for a nap. Intended for semi-public spaces such as schools, open spaces and libraries, this second space offers the user a feeling of intimacy, without isolating the person completely from his or her surroundings.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
In a society that is constantly producing and consuming and where planned obsolescence is built into any products, we have to question the way we use things. Furniture from current Olympic Games is often discarded or sold after two weeks of use. Mush.Room offers a durable and economical furniture solution for short-lived events. Consisting of five essential pieces, this family of objects meets the basic needs of a room for a short stay. The material, mycelium composite, is a mixture of hemp fibre and fungus. The whole is heat pressed and the ladder acts as a binder. As a result, these units do not contain formaldehyde adhesives that are harmful to health and nature. The components are locally sourced and will be able to continue their life cycle after composting without leaving a trace on the planet.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
MBK is a mobile bookshop that moves around to promote and sell books easily. This bookshop can be used for a temporary indoor or outdoor event such as a book fair, an exhibition or a design week. Its compact structure, on wheels, makes it easy to transport and move. MBK is composed of a display for books that unfolds on one side and on the other side a seat that also unfolds to browse the books. In the centre of the structure, drawers are placed to store them. An umbrella can be integrated in the centre of the bookshop to provide shelter from the sun.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
The acoustics in a room have a large impact on our well-being. Restaurants often have to take measures to improve the acoustics. Noe is a table for restaurants that takes on this task. It absorbs sound through its structure. It is constructed similar to a boat to create a cavity in the table top. The Helmholtz effect comes into play during absorption – sound penetrates through the openings, resonates in the cavity and is converted into heat. This means that no porous materials need to be added and the table remains hygienic. The table is made entirely of wood, with a plywood table top and fine lamellas on the underside of the table. This design keeps the table light physically but also visually, so it fits well in different restaurants.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
We have all been on a date at a café on a terrace and realised that the table at which we are sitting is wobbly or leaning. Sometimes the problem is easily solved by moving the table, but sometimes you have to be patient, at the risk of ruining your date. In order to solve this problem, I created Zenith, a coffee table whose foot can be oriented according to the slope thanks to a ball joint so that the tabletop remains perfectly horizontal. This problem is solved with a click, allowing the user to enjoy the present moment.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
My graduation project is a set of earbuds that can be taken apart, designed to provide easy access to all the internal components so that they may be replaced and disassembled in order to be recycled. There are hundreds of wireless earbuds in the world, of all shapes and sizes, which cannot be repaired and at the end of their lives are seldom recycled. The design of these earbuds relates to the concept of disassemblability so that consumers can change parts if they break and do not have to buy a new product. At the end of the product’s life, every material can be easily disassembled and recycled. These considerations, which are the result of decisions made at the product design stage, justify my approach to design.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stephane Halmai-Voisard, Maddalena Casadei
Potential Objects is a project in the form of a video game/digital tool in virtual reality. The game invites users to a fictional world in which they can move and design objects from a library of elements that can be linked together. In order to have varied results regarding the produced objects, people will be able to integrate pieces designed by previous users when creating a new object.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Elric Petit
Within the project "Figure libre," students are provided with the opportunity to express themselves on a subject of their choosing. The project encourages the incorporation of personal research, or thesis and to select a field aligning with their desired career paths post-studies, be it in furniture, mobility, connected objects, or any other area.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Philippe Malouin
"Form follows function" is an expression attributed to the modernist architect Louis Sullivan. It is a statement that is quite relevant to industrial design. On the other hand, form can sometimes also determine function in a process of reverse exploration. During the workshop with Philippe Malouin, students were encouraged to look for new functions inspired by forms found in a metal recycling center. In this process, random discoveries and associations were made to generate a new and surprising vocabulary of forms.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Tomas Kral
For this project, 3rd-year students were asked to reimagine an alarm clock. With creativity, but also simplicity, accuracy, and common sense, these clocks display the time and emit a sound or vibration at a predetermined moment. Placed next to the bed, hung on the wall, set on a child's nightstand, or packed in a suitcase for travel, these often-overlooked everyday objects have been explored and updated by the students, who considered various scenarios and rituals.
PRODUCT DESIGN
with Camille Blin
Master Product Design students from ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne have created, in collaboration with Japanese brand Yamaha and its Design Laboratory, new types of music players in order to meet new requirements related to listening to music. Under the guidance of Camille Blin, Head of the project, the students first investigated and documented different contemporary processes and ways of listening to music, specifically through photographs and videos. The aim was to create a cartography of these practises. In a second step, they transcribed and applied these findings to new music playback devices – relevance and innovation being essential in this phase of the project. Finally, with the help of specialists from the Yamaha Design Laboratory based in Hamamatsu (Japan) and Los Angeles (USA), they developed the formal and technical qualities of their initial concepts into prototypes. Six projects were finalised, with great attention to details and materials, which are now presented thanks to a scenography by Anthony Guex. Hence, the exhibition features a music player that offers musicians a new way to practise their instruments using artificial intelligence; an installation that responds to the growing demand for live concerts at home by using a combination of sound and light to mimic a real concert environment; ASMR instruments that offer listeners a soothing moment by playing the sounds of relaxing movements; a home speaker that allows for a smoother transition between the different music players commonly used in the home; a player that offers an unexpected experience by displaying the rotation of a vinyl record vertically on a pedestal, and a speaker that allows people to listen to their music using their favourite objects as a trigger.
PRODUCT DESIGN
by Silvio Rebholz
Mention Excellent Prix EXECAL On the Way to Work with… is a series of video interviews in which I accompany designers, artists or other creative professionals on their way to work. For each episode, I designed a vehicle or a camera device adapted to the guests and their means of transport. These tailor-made objects are designed to create a surprising interview setting and to serve as a camera set-up to capture the conversation on the go without a big film crew. The daily commute is a transition period between private and professional life and forms the stage for an interview which sheds light on the guests’ personality and their passion for their job. The interview series is an experimentation to develop a personal ongoing project as an extension of my practice as a product designer.
PRODUCT DESIGN
with Camille Blin, Augustin Scott de Martinville
Diploma project 2021 www.ecal-diplomes.ch
PRODUCT DESIGN
with Camille Blin
Innovative architecture, technology and design are shaping the future of education, challenging the norms for those creating learning spaces more than ever before. Danish furniture manufacturers RBM by Flokk have embarked on a semester-long design project with students from ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne (Switzerland). “What a great challenge for the students to collaborate with an important brand in order to create future experiences based on their experiences from the past! Back to school and to the future!” says Alexis Georgacopoulos, Director of ECAL. Based around the title, The Future of School Seating, the 1st year Master Product Design students worked with course leader and designer Camille Blin, assisted by Margo Clavier, to explore alternatives to today’s traditional school chair, specifically for children aged 6–12. “We tasked the students at ECAL to reimagine traditional school chairs and to design a product that fits seamlessly into the operating culture of future learning environments. We know that ways of teaching and learning are more diverse than ever before and we are excited to show off some great concepts from the ECAL 1st year Master Product Design students – the next generation of super talented designers,” explains .ystein Austad, Design Manager, RBM by Flokk. Located inside Konstnärshuset, a stunning and historical art gallery based in Central Stockholm,Education Reimagined invites visitors to experience an interactive exhibition of inspiring concepts presented by the students themselves. Visitors to Stockholm Design week can enjoy a fascinating glimpse into how young designers envision education spaces of the future.
EXHIBITIONS
On the occasion of the Milan Design Week (17-23 April 2023), ECAL presents The Salone Pick-Up by the designer Silvio Rebholz, Master Product Design graduate: a series of interviews streamed live on Instagram and hosted between Salone Satellite and Salone del Mobile, with key players at the fair.
EXHIBITIONS
On the occasion of the Milan Design Week (17-23 April 2023), ECAL presents Junkyard Diving at the House of Switzerland. Under the guidance of the designer Philippe Malouin, ECAL’s Bachelor students in Industrial Design invite us to question our consumption habits, the role of designers and the world of tomorrow.