AWARDS & GRANTS 2025

GRANTS & AWARDS 2025 – BACHELOR

TREMPLIN ECAL AWARD SUPPORTED BY FONDATION LEENAARDS – CHF 10'000.-

A prize to support graduates in launching their careers or developing concrete artistic or professional projects.

Presented by Sabrina Grassi, Executive Director

Cedric Zellweger – BA Photography
Alfredo Venti – BA Graphic Design

FONDATION CASINO BARRIÈRE DE MONTREUX GRANT – CHF 8'000.-

Awarded to a student entering their diploma year in September, selected for their creative potential.

Presented by Hervé Klopfenstein, Board Member, Fondation Casino Barrière de Montreux

Charlyne Genoud – 2nd year BA Cinema

PIERRE KELLER AWARD – CHF 5'000.-

In memory of Pierre Keller, ECAL Director from 1995 to 2011. Awarded for a particularly committed diploma project.

Presented by Alexis Georgacopoulos, Director of ECAL

Inès Riber – BA Photography

JAN MICHALSKI FOUNDATION GRANTS – MEMORY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT + CHF 5'000.- + SPECIAL PRIZES

Grants awarded to support and publicly present two Bachelor thesis projects. A public launch will be held in autumn 2026 at the Fondation Jan Michalski in Montricher.

Presented by Natalia Granero, Director, Fondation Jan Michalski

Grants:

Emilie Müller – BA Graphic Design
Paul Reachi – BA Fine Arts

Special Prize:

Antonin Dutoit – BA Cinema (CHF 1'000.-)

IMAGES VEVEY X ECAL AWARD – EXHIBITION AT L’APPARTEMENT, ESPACE IMAGES VEVEY

Awarded to a BA Photography graduate for a first public exhibition and to reinforce ties between ECAL and Images Vevey.

Presented by Stefano Stoll, Director, Images Vevey

Cedric Zellweger – BA Photography

DOWNTOWN STUDIO DE L’IMAGE AWARD – POST-PRODUCTION SERVICES + MEMBERSHIP, VALUED AT CHF 5'000.-

Awarded to two BA Cinema students (Image specialisation) for artistic and technical excellence.

Presented by Pascal Tea, CEO Downtown Studio

Serhii Tykhoniuk – BA Cinema
David Gonseth – BA Cinema

LA FONCIÈRE AWARD – CHF 5'000.-

Awarded by La Foncière to a student in BA Photography for outstanding work throughout the academic year.

Presented by Julia Cousse, Senior ESG Manager

Héloïse Tourrenc – BA Photography

WALTER + EVE KENT FOUNDATION GRANTS – CHF 5'000.-

Two grants awarded to particularly talented students in Fine Arts.

Presented by Stéphane Kropf, Head of BA Fine Arts

Niki Loroch – 2nd year BA Fine Arts
Livia de Goumoëns – 2nd year BA Fine Arts

MASÉ STUDIOS SOUND AWARD – MIXING SERVICES IN GENEVA, VALUED AT CHF 5'000.-

Awarded to a graduate for a film recognized for its sound quality and artistic and technical execution.

Presented by Ivan Ruet, Representative, Masé Studios

Louis Richalet – BA Cinema, for the film "De l’eau qui bout au fond de la Terre"

ERNEST MANGANEL AWARD – CHF 3'000.-

Awarded by the Ernest Manganel Foundation for research relevance and the quality of a diploma project in BA Fine Arts.

Presented by Stéphane Kropf, Head of BA Fine Arts, on behalf of the Ernest Manganel Foundation

Emma Blanc-Germser – BA Fine Arts
Zuzana Baková – BA Fine Arts

HES-SO DESIGN & FINE ARTS EXCELLENCE AWARD – CHF 2'500.-

Awarded to a graduate for excellence in their diploma work.

Presented by Xavier Duchoud, Deputy Academic Director

Maëlle Roten – BA Industrial Design

FONDATION SYLVIE RUSCONI AWARD – CHF 2'000.-

Awarded to a Visual Communication graduate for an editorial project (book or magazine) distinguished by subject relevance, content production, layout, and physical prototype.

Presented by Sylvie Rusconi, President of the Fondation Sylvie Rusconi

Mathilde Driebold – BA Graphic Design

SWISS DESIGN ASSOCIATION BACHELOR AWARD 2025 – 3-YEAR SDA MEMBERSHIP + ENTREPRENEURIAL COACHING

Awarded to a Bachelor student for excellence in their diploma project. The prize includes a three-year membership in the SDA and individual entrepreneurial coaching.

Presented by Valentine Ebner, Committee Member, Swiss Design Association

Christophe Ascençao – BA Industrial Design

CITY OF RENENS AWARD – EXHIBITION AT LA FERME DES TILLEULS + CHF 2'000.-

An encouragement prize awarded to a 2nd-year BA student for the quality of their work. The exhibition will take place in December 2025.

Presented by Nathalie Jaccard, Municipal Councillor, City of Renens

Laura Cipriano – 2nd year BA Industrial Design

WSP CONSULTING ENGINEERS AWARD – CHF 1'500.-

Two prizes awarded to graduates whose diploma projects take into account sustainable development, including environmental, economic and social aspects.

Presented by Vincent Jacquier, Head of Bachelor Visual Communication

Coraline Beyeler – BA Graphic Design
Gaia Vitali – BA Industrial Design

GENEVA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (GIFF) AWARD – CHF 1'000.-

Awarded to a BA Media & Interaction Design graduate for an innovative and original approach to storytelling or project execution.

Presented by Lucie Emch, Programming Officer, GIFF

Alexine Sierro – BA Media & Interaction Design

VISARTE VAUD AWARD – CHF 1'000.-

Awarded to a BA Fine Arts graduate for the excellence of their diploma project.

Presented by Nicole Christe, President of Visarte Vaud

Eulalie Félix – BA Fine Arts

METAA AWARD – CHF 1'000.-

Awarded to a BA Media & Interaction Design graduate for an innovative and experimental approach to their diploma project.

Presented by Paul Lëon, President of METAA – Media Experiments in Technology and Art Association

Thomas Gaudin – BA Media & Interaction Design

LOGITECH CREATIVE & DESIGN AWARD – CHF 1'000.- + A HIGH-END CREATIVE SOLUTION FROM LOGITECH

Awarded to a graduate in BA Media & Interaction Design whose diploma project demonstrates a strong sensitivity to themes dear to Logitech.

Presented by Giulio Barresi, UX Lead, Logitech

Livia Schmid – BA Media & Interaction Design

PRIX DE L’ANNÉE PROPÉDEUTIQUE – CHF 500.- (EX AEQUO)

A prize awarded to a student in the Foundation Year who distinguished themselves through outstanding academic results.

Presented by Denis Roueche, on behalf of David Monnet, Head of the Foundation Year

Louise Bercher – Foundation Year, Cinema
Suriya Brambilla – Foundation Year, Graphic Design

GRANTS & AWARDS 2025 – MASTER

ECAL TREMPLIN AWARD SUPPORTED BY FONDATION LEENAARDS – CHF 10,000.-

The Tremplin Award supports the career launch of talented ECAL graduates by helping them establish a long-term professional artistic or design practice. It supports the implementation of a concrete project or their entry into professional life.

Presented by Catherine Othenin-Girard, President of the Cultural Commission of Fondation Leenaards

Paul Fritz – MA Fine Arts graduate
Giulia Zanzarella – MA Type Design graduate
Eva Manuela Rivas Bao – MA Photography graduate

GRANT NESTLÉ-ECAL – CHF 10,000.-

Two CHF 10,000 grants awarded to 2nd-year students in Product Design, Photography or Type Design who have distinguished themselves through the quality of their diploma projects, particularly on themes such as technological or social innovation, sustainability, or health.

Presented by René Ciocca, Head of Corporate Identity Design at Nestlé

Marco Ciacci – MA Product Design graduate
Stephanie Wilson – MA Type Design graduate

DE BETHUNE AWARD – CHF 6,000.-

A prize awarded to a graduate of the Master of Advanced Studies in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship for the quality of their work. De Bethune is an independent Swiss watch manufacturer based in L’Auberson, in the Jura region of Vaud.

Presented by Jörg Hysek, Head of Sales at De Bethune

Laura Clauscen – MAS Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship graduate

GRANT WALTER + EVE KENT FOUNDATION – CHF 5,000.-

Two grants awarded to particularly talented 1st-year Master Fine Arts students in the fields of painting and sculpture, in support of their continued studies at ECAL.

Presented by Stéphanie Moisdon, Head of Master Fine Arts

Taleb Lachheb – 1st-year MA Fine Arts student
Asia Lapai – 1st-year MA Fine Arts student

HES-SO DESIGN & FINE ARTS EXCELLENCE AWARD – CHF 2,500.-

A prize awarded to an ECAL student who has distinguished themselves through the excellence of their diploma project.

Presented by Xavier Duchoud, Academic Deputy Director at ECAL

Takumi Ise – MA Product Design graduate

PROFOT-ELINCHROM PRIZE – EQUIPMENT WORTH CHF 2,124.-

A prize awarded to a Master Photography student who has produced an excellent diploma project.

Presented by Sandro Bizzarro, Digital Imaging Consultant at Profot SA

Francesca Bergamini – MA Photography graduate

ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD – CITY OF RENENS – EXHIBITION AT LA FERME DES TILLEULS IN RENENS + CHF 2,000.-

An encouragement prize awarded to a 1st-year Master student for outstanding work. The winner will exhibit at La Ferme des Tilleuls in Renens in December 2025.

Presented by Nathalie Jaccard, City Councillor of Renens

Yannick de Kalbermatten – 1st-year MA Type Design student

BCV AWARD – CHF 2,000.-

A prize awarded to a Master's graduate for the overall quality of their work.

Presented by Stéphanie Moisdon, Head of Master Fine Arts

Ludovico Orombelli – MA Fine Arts graduate

JACQUELINE VEUVE AWARD – CHF 1,000.-

An award presented to a Film student for a remarkable graduation work. This prize pays tribute to Jacqueline Veuve, a renowned Swiss documentary filmmaker who passed away in 2013.

Presented by Paolo Moretti, Head of Master Cinema

Mariam Bitsadze – 1st-year MA Cinema student, for the film “Sous la table”

DAVID RUST PRIZE – CHF 1,000.-

A prize awarded by the association "In Rust We Trust" to a graduate for outstanding typographic work. The winner is given the opportunity to publish a visual used to raise donations for the Design Against Cancer initiative.

Presented by Maude Rust