Picasso, Giacometti, ECAL. Some projects sometimes give rise to what may first seem to be unlikely associations. In this case, it turned out for the best. The Musée national Picasso-Paris challenged ECAL to create new seats, at once practical and discreet and yet with distinctive character, for the exhibition areas. We rose to the challenge.
In order to best respond to the visitors’ needs, ECAL commissioned a group of nine students and graduates to carry out a study on the seats of fifty museums or so in Europe (Germany, England, Spain, France, Italy, the Netherlands and Switzerland). Inspired by this survey, 2nd year Bachelor Industrial Design students worked with materials of their choice under the guidance of designer and professor Chris Kabel. Isabelle Baudraz’s ‘Tie’ bench was selected from the projects put forward before being assessed in situ to make sure it blended with the architecture of the museum and the works of the Spanish genius. The benches were finally produced by the outdoor furniture company Tectona.
All the project participants worked in a concerted manner and the project was a great success. Picasso and Giacometti can definitely sit easy.
Photographs by ECAL/Calypso Mahieu and Matthieu Gafsou
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BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Elric Petit
As part of the CITY TREES project, students were invited to design an object in connection with a tree of their choice within the urban landscape of Lausanne. Drawing inspiration from dendrology, they observed an existing tree and envisioned a subtle, respectful, and reversible intervention. The aim was to highlight the unique characteristics of the tree while ensuring the project harmoniously blended into its surroundings.
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Christophe Guberan
In collaboration with a local craftsman, the students designed a reusable packaging solution suitable for production in a little series. The project aimed to enhance the value of an everyday food product while addressing current challenges related to transport, sustainability, and the second life of packaging. The intervention had to be simple, functional, and eco-friendly, offering a purpose beyond its original packaging function.
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stéphane Halmaï-Voisard
The first-year students of the Bachelor in Industrial Design (BADI) at ECAL, under the direction of Stéphane Halmaï-Voisard, head of BADI, embarked on a project to design their own unique interpretations of a Bluetooth speaker. This project challenged the students to work creatively within the constraints of an existing kit of technical components, encouraging them to explore innovative approaches in terms of form, materiality, and functionality.
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Elric Petit
Newspaper is an industrial design project that aims to cultivate fresh ideas with the potential to seamlessly integrate into our contemporary society and its economy. Under the guidance of Elric Petit, each student had the possibility to explore a chosen topic, expressing their personal affinities and interests, thereby enhancing the overall project experience. In the spirit of multidisciplinarity, the students underwent a writing workshop with a professional journalist, which culminated in 25 articles written by the students on their individual projects, collected in a printed journal.
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Adrien Rovero
AGO Lighting has come together with ECAL Bachelor students in Industrial Design, under the guidance of Swiss designer Adrien Rovero, to conceive a collection of lighting installations to be used in public places such as museums, hotel lobbies, coffee bar and so on. Focusing primarily on the spatial aspect of light, our approach was to design lighting structures based on components supplied by AGO and inspired by the fabric of Seoul, rather than creating mere lamps.