The BA and MA degrees awarded by ECAL not only bear witness to the prestige and the quality of the training provided, but they also attest to the incredible wealth of knowledge acquired by its students, who have now become talented and competent alumni.
These degrees crown a career filled with a variety of engaging experiences, rewarding encounters and, above all, genuine connections with real people, who will accompany them throughout their lives.
As well as a portfolio that matches their aspirations, our alumni take with them an invaluable network of contacts that will ensure smooth and successful entry into the professional world. We urge them to cherish these valuable relationships as they face new, exciting challenges.
The years spent at ECAL have also enabled our graduates to perfect their creative voice and approach. We warmly encourage them to continue to chart new territories and to be bold and curious to further develop their artistic skills.
Now that they have become prominent members of the ex-ECAL community, our links with them are by no means broken – quite the contrary! We are proud of our graduates and look forward to seeing their careers flourish.
Every year, personalities from the world of art and design are invited to ECAL in order to participate in the diploma juries and to assess the students’ works.
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JURY BACHELOR FINE ARTS
Julia Marchand
Curator, Arles
Sabrina Tarasoff
Writer & critic, Paris
Guillaume Pilet
Artist, Lausanne
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JURY BACHELOR PHOTOGRAPHY
Lewis Chaplin
Editor, Loose Joints publishing, Marseille
Emilia Genuardi
Curator, Director of the approche salons, Paris
Matthieu Meyer
Artistic Director, Paris
"The Bachelor's level was exceptionally high and diverse in its production and execution. A courageous group of young students, who are not afraid to confront different social, political and cultural issues through their work, are exactly the kind of projects that excite us and that we strive to encourage and publish."
Lewis Chaplin
Loose Joints publishing, Marseille
Jury BA Photography
"From immersive environments, to inventive apps, to carefully designed digital games, to hybrid artistic, digital and communication projects, including experimental electronic machines and synthesizers, the Bachelor Media & Interaction Design trains future generations of creatives who can/able to navigate the creative industries with artistic versatility, technological knowledge, and innovative strategies."
Giulia Bini
Curator, EPFL Pavilions, Lausanne
Jury BA Media & Interaction Design
JURY BACHELOR MEDIA & INTERACTION DESIGN
Giulia Bini
Curator, EPFL Pavilions, Lausanne
Dirk Koy
Artist, Basel
Matthieu Meyer
Artistic Director, Paris
JURY BACHELOR GRAPHIC DESIGN
Selina Bernet
Type & Graphic designer, Zurich
Matthieu Meyer
Artistic Director, Paris
Astrid Seme
Graphic designer, Vienna
“I really enjoyed seeing how the students turned personal and political interests into design projects while embracing new technologies with an eye to both aesthetics and function.”
Selina Bernet
Type & Graphic designer, Zurich
Jury BA Graphic Design
“I wish the ECAL and its magnificent students a bright future. As in the cinema: always look ahead to what's to come.”
Héléna Klotz
Film director, Paris
Jury BA Cinéma
JURY BACHELOR CINEMA
Héléna Klotz
Film director, Paris
François Musy
Sound engineer, Rolle
Artur Tort
Chief Operator, Barcelona
JURY BACHELOR INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
Beatrice Leanza
Director MUDAC, Lausanne
Mark Braun
Designer and Professor HBKsaar, Berlin
Paolo Brambilla
Architect, Designer and Creative Director for FLOS and Zanotta, Milan
"The breath of subjects tackled by the students and the strong research-lead approach articulated in the presentations were an impressive reminder that a risk-taking attitude is a fundamental character for design to engage with the complexity of today’s world and its entangled ecosystems of sustainable production, social care and environmental reparation.”
Beatrice Leanza
Director MUDAC, Lausanne
Jury BA Industrial Design
“ECAL Master Photography is at the forefront of the latest developments in photography, teaching its students to define its future appearance and truly understand the technologies behind the medium in its current appearances. This didn’t only result in jaw-dropping visuals among the graduation projects, but also reflected a deep understanding from the students on how to engage with and reflect on today’s visual culture at large.”
Miriam Kooiman
Curator, Foam Museum, Amsterdam
Jury MA Photography
JURY MASTER PHOTOGRAPY
Miriam Kooiman
Curator, Foam Museum, Amsterdam
Jurgen Maelfeyt
Editor, Art Paper Editions, Gent
Noam Toran
Artist, associate professor at HEAD, Geneva
“I was struck not only by the quality of practice and critical thinking, but also by the camaraderie and feeling of care and love I saw between the students.”
Noam Toran
Noam Toran, Artist, associate professor at HEAD
Jury MA Photography
“I am delighted by the quality of the student projects coming out of the ECAL Masters Type Design program. The variety of topics, in-depth study of the subjects and their execution are really impressive.”
Veronika Burian
Type designer, Prague
Jury MA Type Design
JURY MASTER TYPE DESIGN
Veronika Burian
Type designer, Prague
Julie Peters
Art director, Brussels
Kristyan Sarkis
Type designer, Amsterdam
Douglas Stanley
Artist (HEAD), Geneva
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JURY MASTER PRODUCT DESIGN
Piero Lissoni
Designer & architect, Milan
Jane Withers
Curator, London
Christian Kaegi
Designer & entrepreneur, Zurich
Emilie Meldem
Designer (HEAD), Geneva
“We really appreciated the presentations and quality of communication from each student. In terms of the projects, the variation in intentions made us question the parameters of design, sparking numerous debates within the jury. We feel this diversity reflects the context of design day.”
Jane Withers
Curator, London
Jury MA Product Design
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JURY MAS DESIGN FOR LUXURY AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
Sebastian Herkner
Designer, Offenbach am Main
Pavlo Schtakleff
Founder and Managing Director, Sé Collection, London
Gabriel Roland
Director Vienna Design Week
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“At ECAL, I was truly impressed by the scope of interests and elasticity of student's practices in the Master Fine Arts. Rather than solidifying a narrow professional brand or doubling down on what they knew, artists seemed driven by an ethos of experimentation, whether it was through critically engaging with their pasts or trying to reimagine the present.”
Cooper Jacoby
Artist, Los Angeles
Jury MA Fine Arts
JURY MASTER FINE ARTS
Cornelia Grassi
Greengrassi Art gallery, London
Cooper Jacoby
Artist, Los Angeles
Sabrina Tarasoff
Writer & critic, Paris
Olivier Desvoignes
Artist (HEAD), Geneva
“The process for those of us on the jury and attending the graduation is extraordinarily gratifying and a privilege. The 12 artists take this day seriously and the combination of us looking at the work and then for the artist to talk about how they get to the point of presenting, is illuminating and considered.”
The aim of the "Tremplin Award" is to help talented artists and/or designers launch their careers and establish a long-term professional artistic practice. It is reserved for creatives who have just graduated from ECAL, supports them in setting up a concrete project or for their entry into professional life.
Presented by Mrs Catherine Othenin-Girard, Chairwoman of Cultural Commission of Fondation Leenaards
Images Vevey x ECAL Award & Exhibition at L’APPARTEMENT
A prize offering the opportunity of a first public visibility through an exhibition to a graduate of the ECAL's Bachelor's or Master's degree in photography, while reinforcing the existing links between ECAL and Images Vevey.
Presented by Mr Stefano Stoll, Director of Images Vevey
Freestudios Award — Vaucher with a value of CHF 15'000.-
Marcello Balzaretti BA Cinema Un prix destiné à un·e étudiant·e en spécialisation Image qui s’est distingué·e par la qualité de son travail aussi bien au niveau artistique que technique. Ce prix souligne les ponts vertueux entre le monde académique et professionnel.
Remis par M. Boris Rabusseau, représentant FreeStudios
Plateforme10 x ECAL Award & Exhibition + CHF 5'000.-
This prize is intended to reward a Bachelor Media & Interaction Design student and will allow, among other things, the development of the project in view of a first public visibility through an exhibition of the laureate, while reinforcing the links between the ECAL and Plateforme10.
Presented by Mr. Manuel Sigrist, digital manager at Photo Elysée for Plateforme 10.
In memory of Pierre Keller, Director of ECAL from 1995 to 2011. A prize awarded for a particularly committed diploma project.
Presented by Mr. Alexis Georgacopoulos, Director, and Mr. Vincent Jacquier, Head of Visual Communication Departement
Masé Studios Sound Award – Voucher with value of CHF 5’000.-
A prize to a student in the Sound specialization who has distinguished himself/herself by the quality of his/her work, both on an artistic and technical level. This award underlines the virtuous bridges between the academic and professional worlds.
Presented by Mr Ivan Ruet, representative of Masé Studios
Flokk Internship – Six-month internship program in Oslo
Six-month internship programme at Flokk HQ in Norway to a Master Product Design graduate. Flokk is the market leader in the design, development and production of workplace furniture in Europe.
Presented by Mr Stéphane Halmaï-Voisard, Head of Industrial Design Bachelor, on behalf of Flokk
Swiss Design Association Bachelor Award 2023 - 3-year membership & business coaching
A prize that rewards a Bachelor student for the excellence of his or her diploma work. The SDA Bachelor Award offers the winner the opportunity to become an SDA member for three years, as well as individual entrepreneurial coaching for the development of their diploma project.
Presented by Valentine Ebner, member of the organising committee of the SDA, Swiss Design Association
Two prizes awarded by the jury of the Ernest Manganel Foundation to graduate a students in Fine Arts, to reward the relevance of his/her research and the very professional quality of his/her diploma work.
Presented by Mr. Stéphane Kropf, Head of BA Fine Arts for Manganel Foundation.
HES-SO Award for Excellence in Design and Visual Arts – CHF 2'500.-
A prize awarded to an ECAL student who has distinguished him/herself by the excellence of his/her diploma work. Presented by Mr. René Graf, vice-rector of education at HES-SO
Two prizes awarded to graduate students, authors of a project that takes into account sustainable development, in particular its economic, environmental and social aspects.
Presented by Mrs. Pascale Grossmann, communications consultant at BG Ingénieurs Conseils SA
A prize awarded to a graduate student who has distinguished himself/herself by the quality of his/her Bachelor's thesis. Presented by Mrs. Yoo-Mi Steffen, EXECAL Secretary
A prize awarded to a graduate student in Media & Interaction Design who has distinguished himself/herself by a prospective and experimental approach during his/her diploma work.
Presented by Mr. Lionel Tardy, committee member of METAA: Media Experiments in Technology and Art Association
A prize awarded to a graduate student in Fine Arts who has distinguished himself or herself by the excellence of his or her work. Presented by Mrs. Patricia Glave, President of Visarte Vaud
The aim of the "Tremplin Award" is to help talented artists and/or designers launch their careers and establish a long-term professional artistic practice. It is reserved for creatives who have just graduated from ECAL, supports them in setting up a concrete project or for their entry into professional life.
Presented by Mrs Catherine Othenin-Girard, Chairwoman of Cultural Commission of Fondation Leenaards
Two Nestlé scholarships of CHF 10'000. - each awarded to deserving 2nd year MADP, MAP or MATD students who have distinguished themselves by the research and quality of their diploma project, particularly -but not exclusively- in relation to current themes such as technological or social innovation, sustainability or health.
Presented by Mrs Aude Gandon, Nestlé Global Chief Marketing Officer
A prize awarded to a graduate the Master of Advanced Studies in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship for the quality of his/her work.
Presented by Mr Denis Flageollet, Master Watchmaker & Founder of De Bethune
A prize awarded by La Foncière, a property investment fund, to a deserving student for the work accomplished during the year in Photography.
Presented by Mr Thomas Vonaesch, COO of La Foncière
HES-SO Design & Fine Arts Excellence Award — CHF 2’500.-
A prize awarded to an ECAL student who has distinguished himself/herself by the excellence of his/her diploma work. Presented by Mr René Graf, Vice-rector for Education HES-SO
A prize awarded to a Master's graduate who has distinguished by the overall quality of his/her work.
Presented by Mr Camille Blin, Head of Master Product Design
Profot-Elinchrom Award — Equipment worth CHF 2'000.-
A prize for a Master Photography student who has produced an excellent diploma work.
Presented by Mr Sandro Bizzarro, Digital Imaging Consultant at Profot SA
A prize awarded to a graduate who has produced a distinguished typographic work. The winner is offered the opportunity to publish a visual that will be used to collect donations for the Design against Cancer action.
Presented by Mrs Maude Rust, Founder and Chairwoman of the Association in rust we trust*
A grant awarded to a student about to complete their graduation year. The choice was made based on their talent and creativity.
Presented by Mr. Jakob Hlasek, President of the Casino Barrière de Montreux Foundation
Soma Summer Mexico 2023 — A one-month artist residency in Mexico — value CHF 5’000.-
Awarded to two 1st year Master Fine Arts students, selected for a 1-month artist residency in Mexico, at the Hacienda Santa María Xalostoc in Tlaxcala state.
Presented by Mrs Stéphanie Moisdon, Head of Master Fine Arts
Scholarship Walter + Eve Kent Foundation – CHF 5'000.- (BA)
Two scholarships awarded to particularly talented students in the fields of painting and sculpture, to support the continuation of his or her studies at ECAL.
Presented by Mr Alexis Georgacopoulos, member of Walter + Eve Kent Foundation
Scholarship Walter + Eve Kent Foundation – CHF 5'000.- (MA)
Two scholarships awarded to particularly talented students in the fields of painting and sculpture, to support the continuation of his or her studies at ECAL.
Presented by Mr Alexis Georgacopoulos, member of Walter + Eve Kent Foundation
Encouragement Award – City of Renens - CHF 2'000.- (MA)
An encouragement prize awarded to students Arts who have distinguished themselves by the quality of their work and exhibition at the La Ferme des Tilleuls in Renens in December 2023.
Presented by Mrs Nathalie Jaccard, Conseillère municipale à la Ville de Renens
Encouragement Award – City of Renens - CHF 2'000.- (BA)
An encouragement prize awarded to students Arts who have distinguished themselves by the quality of their work and exhibition at the La Ferme des Tilleuls in Renens in December 2023.
Presented by Mrs Nathalie Jaccard, Conseillère municipale à la Ville de Renens
FIFF Namur Award — participation in the Emile Cantillon jury (BA)
A prize awarded to a 2nd year student who has distinguished him/herself by the quality of his/her theoretical reflection. Presented by Rachel Noël, teaching assistant in the Bachelor Cinema
An award given to a film student who has distinguished himself/herself during the year by the quality of his/her achievements or technical work. This award pays tribute to Jacqueline Veuve, a great Swiss documentary filmmaker who passed away in 2013.
Presented by Ms Adèle Beaulieu, Bachelor Cinema assistant
A prize awarded to a student of the ECAL's Foundation Year who has distinguished themselves by the excellence of their work and who has obtained the best results of their year.
Presented by Mr David Monnet, Head of Foundation Year