The “Clap” chair emerged from a reflection on the evolution of student working spaces. Work habits and office structures have massively changed. Classrooms have transformed into open spaces where desks and chairs belong to everyone. “Clap” is a chair with a storage system that enables you to keep your personal belongings safe for a short break thanks to a lock, while ensuring good ergonomics. It consists of an injection-moulded plastic structure and a seat made of moulded plywood. The project was developed based on the act of sitting like an act of appropriation.
Diploma project (2020) by François Lafortune
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BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Christophe Guberan
Second-year industrial design students collaborated with Zurich-based brand FREITAG Lab, leveraging their expertise in environmental awareness, material upcycling, and the circular economy. Using the FREITAG manifesto as a foundation, they developed new shared products centered on the principle of "access over ownership."
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stéphane Halmaï-Voisard
For this project, the students had to design a seat, or rather requalify and rehabilitate a chair or armchair using existing models such as the monobloc, aluminium bistro chair, or deck chair, as the base structure. Employing Kvadrat upholstery textiles, the designs had to be reversible, meaning it should not alter the existing structure. While the original function of the chair could be maintained or altered, the proposals aimed to improved the comfort and aesthetic character of the seats.
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with David Glättli
Founded in 1981, micasa has built its reputation on accessible, high-quality design and has grown into Switzerland’s leading furniture brand. Committed to democratic design that integrates seamlessly into everyday life, the company partnered with ECAL to develop HOMEWORKS, a limited-edition collection that invites a new generation to reconsider how living spaces are shaped and how design can become an active, meaningful presence in daily routines.
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.
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Christian Spiess, Fondation USM, Théâtre de Vidy
The USM Design Grant is a study grant launched by the Fondation USM to encourage innovation by rewarding a student’s project. For the 6th edition of the USM Design Grant awarded by the USM Foundation, ECAL Bachelor Industrial Design students, under the guidance of Swiss designer Christian Spiess, were asked to design new outdoor seating for the terrace of the Théâtre de Vidy in Lausanne.