AWARDS & GRANTS 2026

GRANTS & AWARDS 2026 – BACHELOR

Milove photography mentorship

Honouring Milo Keller, whose dedication established ECAL Photography’s international reputation, the Milove Photography Mentorship supports emerging talent. Each year, four ECAL BA and MA Photography graduates receive a year of guidance from leading figures on the global photography scene.

Presented by Calypso Mahieu, Head of BA Photography

Ashley Schneiter – BA Photography

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 Fondation Leenards

Celia Cusanno – BA Fine Arts
Mélissa Da Silva Nicolet – BA Industrial 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 Monique Richoz, Board Member, Fondation Casino Barrière de Montreux

Lucie Schrag – 2nd year BA Photography

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

Ashley Schneiter – BA Photography

JAN MICHALSKI FOUNDATION GRANTS – MEMORY DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT + CHF 1'000.- + 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 Federico Nicolao, Board Member, Fondation Jan Michalski

Grants:

Gion Luginbühl – BA Industrial Design
Shiny Vallenas – BA Photography

Special Prizes:

Teo Grajqevci – BA Media & Interaction Design (CHF 5'000.-)
Noa Jetzer – BA Graphic Design (CHF 5'000.-)

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

Aline Savioz – 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 Dorothée Dray, Account Manager, Downtown Studio

Floriane Roulin – 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 Vincent Jacquier, Head of Visual Communication

Ashley Schneiter – 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

Pierre Alliot – 2nd year BA Fine Arts
Dylis-Bel Lafon – 2nd year BA Fine Arts

GOOGLE ARTS CULTURE LAB INNOVATION AWARD – CHF 5'000.-

Awarded to a graduate of the Bachelor’s program in Media & Interaction Design for an imaginative and cutting-edge approach to their diploma project.

Presented by Alain Bellet, Professor at BA Media & Interaction Design

Steve Bouillant – BA Media & Interaction Design

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

Armine Salifu – BA Fine Arts
Avril Hélard – BA Fine Arts
Eloïse Llanca Bolivar – BA Fine Arts

ART IN THE HOSPITAL STUDIO AWARD – CHF 3'000.- + production budget

An award offering a graduate of the Bachelor in Visual Arts the opportunity to use a studio for four months at the CHUV, in collaboration with one of its departments, and to present an exhibition dedicated to La Mercerie in the spring of 2027.

Presented by Agathe Naito and Rosalie Vasey, Program Coordinators at ARTCHUV

Avril Hélard – BA Fine Arts

FONDATION RUSCONI AWARD – CHF 3'000.-

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 Rusconi

Da Silva Romão Caroline – BA Graphic Design

LOGITECH CREATIVE & DESIGN AWARD – CHF 3'000.- + 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

Teo Grajqevci – BA Media & Interaction Design

SWISS DESIGN ASSOCIATION BACHELOR AWARD 2026 – 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 Clara Jannet, Committee Member, Swiss Design Association

Jonas Meynet – BA Industrial Design

Award of Excellence in Design and Visual Arts HES-SO – CHF 2'500.-

Awarded to a Bachelor student for excellence in their diploma project.

Presented by Gaetano Massa, Scientific Assistant in the Design and Visual Arts Department at HES-SO

Gion Luginbühl – 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 2026.

Presented by Nathalie Jaccard, Municipal Councillor, City of Renens

Léa Verboux – BA Graphic 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 Pauline Saglio, Head of BA Media & Interaction Design, on behalf of the Geneva International Film Festival

Jonathan Vögele – 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 Denis Roueche, Visarte Vaud

Nathan Pidoux – 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 Mylène Dreyer, co-president of METAA – Media Experiments in Technology and Art Association

Laurine Gigandet – BA Media & Interaction Design

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 Rachel Noël, Educational Advisor MA Cinema

Mileny Viera de Andrade – 2nd-year BA Cinema student, for the film “SPARE”

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 David Monnet, Head of the Foundation Year

Clara Widmer – Foundation Year, Graphic Design
Mia Stauffacher – Foundation Year, Photography
Guillem Jehouda – Foundation Year, Photography

GRANTS & AWARDS 2026 – MASTER

Milove photography mentorship

In honor of Milo Keller, whose dedication has shaped ECAL’s international reputation in photography, the Milove Photography Mentorship supports emerging talent. Each year, four ECAL photography BA and MA graduates will receive one year of personalized mentorship from renowned figures in the global photography scene.

Presented by Clément Lambelet, Head of MA Photography

Zhiyue Liu – MA Photography
Thomas Martin – MA Photography
Elisa Hampe – MA Photography

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 Sabrina Grassi, Executive Director Fondation Leenards

Odin Lowsley – MA Type Design
Elisa Hampe – MA Photography
Luc Reinacher – MA Product Design

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 Alexis Georgacopoulos, Director of ECAL

Julieta Tarraubella – MA Photography
Wouter Kellens – MA Product Design

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 Anne Csank, Customer Experience Manager De Bethune

Thibaud Kanty Boto – MAS Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship

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

Tristan Duval – 1st-year MA Fine Arts student
Zora Decherf – 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 Gaetano Massa, Scientific Assistant in the Design and Visual Arts Department at HES-SO

Jahn Koutrios – MA Type Design

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

Michael Girod – MA Cinema, for the sound of the film "Toilet" of Eunhyoung Ju

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, Sales Consultant, Profot

Gaia Pierobon – MA Photography

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 2026.

Presented by Nathalie Jaccard, City Councillor of Renens

Millan Kiptum – MA Cinema

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

Taleb Lachheb – MA Fine Arts

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