Collaboration with Christofle – 2015

Collaboration with Christofle – 2015

ECAL lays the table   For this fifth collaboration between ECAL/Ecole cantonale d’art de Lausanne and the Maison Christofle, the students of the Master of Advanced Studies have taken the challenge to dive straight into the heart of silversmithing history by creating a set of cutlery. This particularly demanding project required a perfect mastery of proportions, ergonomy and detail refinement.

Collaboration (2015) by Rodrigo Caula, Alexis Tourron, Stefano Panterotto, Ophélie Sanga, Kaja Solgaard Dahl, Annie Tung

During a four weeks workshop, led by the Slovakian born and Lausanne based designer Tomas Kral, the 12 students of the programme have individually created their concepts. Within the variety of proposals, 6 projects were selected for further development and the production of prototypes. This second phase enabled the students to further refine the details, while constantly verifying the precision of the forms trough 3D printed resin mock-ups.

Thanks to cutting edge technologies - in particular 3D printing in metal - and the expertise of Christofle’s centuries old craftsmanship, 6 sets of forks, knives and spoons were produced in a record timeframe, while ensuring the outstanding quality of the manual finishing.

Frisson ECAL/Alexis Tourron Photo: Younès Klouche
Point de Paris ECAL/Annie Tung Photo: Younès Klouche

1/2

Etang d’Or ECAL/Kaja Solgaard Dahl Photo: Younès Klouche
Collerette ECAL/Ophélie Sanga Photo: Younès Klouche

1/2

Dipping ECAL/Rodrigo Caula Photo: Younès Klouche
Posata ECAL/Stefano Panterotto Photo: Younès Klouche

1/2

Dipping

Rodrigo Caula
Inspired by the Christofle manufacture visit and especially by the process of silver coating, this project creates the illusion of a raw core hidden in the inner of the cutlery. During the process, the pieces are submerged in a silver bath while being held on its tips. The chiseled core which reveals the raw and textured appearance, seems to be covered and smoothened by a film applied to the rest of the piece.

Frisson

Alexis Tourron
For this project, the point of departure was an abstentious and pure form, while the handles were subtilely transformed. Inspired by the movement and waves on the surface of the water, this series of cutlery comes to life through its refined aesthetics and the reflections on the polished metallic surface.

Posata

Stefano Panterotto
This project bridges the gap between tradition and modernity with its forms inspired by the gestures and the handling of the cutlery. The details like bevels, cuts or marks become subtile decorations and enrich the pieces with a refined and contemporary character.

Collerette

Ophélie Sanga
Just as the Renaissance costumes, the ruff decorates the edges of this cutlery set. Reminding us of gathered fabric, the wavy surface creates a dynamic play of reflections, referencing at the same time the past and the present, resulting in a highly contemporary piece.

Etang d’Or

Kaja Solgaard Dahl
This project was largely inspired by the lakeside landscape at dusk. The base of the cutlery was hollowed out and the resulting indentation was then plated with a golden reflecting finish. The erosion of the volume leads to a pronounced contrast between perfection and imperfection.

Point de Paris

Annie Tung
Anchored in the French cultural patrimony, the laced fabric creates a direct association to the environment of the table. All the pieces of cutlery seem to be wrapped by a fine broidery in order to perfectly match to the fabric of the tablecloth and the napkins. The pieces manage to be at the same time feminine, delicate and classic while maintaining a contemporary impression due to their minimalistic formal language.

 

Projets similaires

Seoho Ahn – Cascade

MAS DESIGN FOR LUXURY & CRAFTSMANSHIP

Seoho Ahn – Cascade

by Seoho Ahn

Jewellery is often seen as an ornamental object, yet it contains structural principles. A chain forms a continuous system of interconnected links that responds to gravity and distributes forces throughout its structure. Cascade explores how this logic can be translated from the body to space. When scaled up, the chain evolves from a decorative element into a load-bearing framework. Connections between links become structural joints, while the continuous flow of the chain becomes a path for transferring and balancing forces. Rather than borrowing the aesthetics of jewellery, Cascade translates its structural principles into a furniture system, transforming a decorative chain into an architectural structure.

Anna Andersson – LYSA

MAS DESIGN FOR LUXURY & CRAFTSMANSHIP

Anna Andersson – LYSA

by Anna Andersson

LYSA is a portable lamp designed for outdoor rituals and small everyday adventures. Inspired by the emotional connection we have to bags and objects made to be carried, the project explores how light can become something intimate and mobile. The lamp is intended for picnics, gardens, balconies, and walks in nearby nature, bringing a sense of warmth and domesticity outdoors. It features dimmable light, USB-C charging, and a protected charging port. The materials — cork, dark brown suede, and linen fabric — were chosen for their tactile and atmospheric qualities. LYSA explores fabric translucency, color tones, light diffusion, and stabilization techniques to create an object that feels soft, warm, and made to accompany quiet moments outdoors.

Maxime Billoud – Lampe trois + 1

MAS DESIGN FOR LUXURY & CRAFTSMANSHIP

Maxime Billoud – Lampe trois + 1

by Maxime Billoud

Lampe trois + 1 is rooted in material research and innovation. At the intersection of craftsmanship and design, this ceramic and porcelain lamp reflects both the artisan's gesture and the designer's approach. It is composed of three identical legs connected by a central technical component, while molded porcelain panels are integrated into the structure. The smoked clay elements, inspired by the Japanese raku technique, contrast with the delicacy and translucency of porcelain. Designed as a flat-pack lamp that can be easily assembled, Lampe trois + 1 embodies a process of material exploration while resulting in a functional and tangible object.

Thibaud Kanty Boto – ROHY

MAS DESIGN FOR LUXURY & CRAFTSMANSHIP

Thibaud Kanty Boto – ROHY

by Thibaud Kanty Boto

In Madagascar, rabane, a textile made from woven raffia fibers, has traditionally been used to make bags, mats, and everyday objects. Today, this weaving technique is gradually disappearing in favor of standardized production intended for export, particularly crochet-based work. Rooted in this evolving artisanal heritage, ROHY explores new possibilities for rabane. Through experimentation, by combining woven fibers with a binder and then molding them, this project reveals the structural and aesthetic potential of rabane. The collection proposes a contemporary reinterpretation of this ancestral craft through a series of accessories.

Martin Brouckaert – Brunch Service

MAS DESIGN FOR LUXURY & CRAFTSMANSHIP

Martin Brouckaert – Brunch Service

by Martin Brouckaert

Brunch Service is a modular collection of objects that transforms Sunday brunch into an architectural landscape. It consists of containers, utensils, and cutlery that, when stacked, create abstract graphic silhouettes. Based on tubular forms, the objective of this project is to break away from industrial standards through a twist that forms sculptural compositions. This system was designed to elevate the ritual of brunch, acting as a reinterpretation of modern silverware that serves as a celebration.

Related courses