The New Final Form

The New Final Form is the result of a cross-disciplinary workshop run by the 1st year students in the Product Design Master's programme. Working with Ceramaret, a company based in Bôle that specialises in new ceramic manufacturing processes, the students imagined today's electrical sockets and switches. Our daily habits and our relationship with these devices have changed considerably over the last few decades, particularly with the battery-powered appliances that surround us.

Thanks to the development of new technologies and new manufacturing processes, and to the properties of ceramics: good resistance to heat and pressure, and very good electrical insulation, the students came up with a series of original proposals rethinking the Feller electrical socket of today, an icon of Swiss design established by Max Bill in 1946.

Workshop (2023)

Assistants: Margo Clavier

While most outdoor sockets have a functional appearance, Shell propose a visual effect that is more integrated into the natural environment. The outdoor socket cover opens and closes, just like a shell. The undulating shape allows for better management of electrical cables and aesthetics. The ceramic material has good outdoor properties, such as resistance to sunlight, water resistance and breathability. SHELL by ECAL / Yichen Wu/ Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

SHELL by ECAL / Yichen Wu/ Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

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Emi-01 explores the alcove as a niche to charge electric home devices. The objects turn the common plug system into integrated wall furniture, still maintaining the strong visual language of the Feller frames. Emi-02 acts as an induction charging station for the mobile device. Emi-Series by ECAL / Aurelia Player & Loïs Weber/ Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

Emi-Series by ECAL / Aurelia Player & Loïs Weber/ Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

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3x5 by ECAL / Gabriella Duck / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

3 x 5 is a multiple socket outlet that takes advantage of the insulation properties of ceramic.The socket outlet can be used with Swiss / EU / UK plugs. Depending on the plug, the elements can be used in combination or independently. 3 x 5 Sorts types J, G, C, F and L into one convenient socket - no extra adapters needed! The socket outlet’s layered construction provides clear and secure orientation. Installation requires minimal intervention. Only o3x5 by ECAL / Gabriella Duck / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

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Piatto is a flat switch made of conductive ceramic. Due to the ceramic’s propreties, a single touch is enough. Piatto aims, with one single panel to switch on all devices, it reduces the number of parts and allows manual and home automation programming. PIATTO by ECAL / Clémentine Merhebi / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

PIATTO by ECAL / Clémentine Merhebi / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

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Charging propose a wireless charging system for phones adapted to Feller Standard products. The accessory is designed to fit into the Standard covers. Thanks to the magnetic surface and the pivoting possibility, the user can place the phone in the wall and orient it in any direction to help looking at the phone at a better angle while charging on the wall. CHARGING by ECAL / Louis Ferraz / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

CHARGING by ECAL / Louis Ferraz / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

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Rolli is a rotating bedside lamp, allowing the light to be guided into different positions. The lampshade directs the light and serves as a handle at the same time. The advanced production methods at Ceramaret led to the application of self-lubricating ceramic, allowing the lamp to turn smoothly. ROLLI by ECAL / Lilian Onstenk & Justus Hilfenhaus/ Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

ROLLI by ECAL / Lilian Onstenk & Justus Hilfenhaus/ Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

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This switch is composed of two elements. The first one, a flat induction base to be fixed in a wall. The second, an element that has two USB-C inputs that magnetize on the flat base to be charged and used from the wall. When needed, it can be taken everywhere in the house as a powerbank. MOVME by ECAL / Constance Thiessoz / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

MOVME by ECAL / Constance Thiessoz / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

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A timer for light switches to encourage energy saving. In each design the slider button travels back along the track to allow easy visual understanding of time passing. With a soft dim as the timer reaches 0, the user is also encouraged to take a break from their activity – to get up and to move. Light Switch Timer by ECAL / Meri Hozumi & Nell May / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

Light Switch Timer by ECAL / Meri Hozumi & Nell May / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

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The starting point for this light switch was to take advantage of the mechanical properties of technical ceramics, specifically applied into self lubricant elements like ceramic bearings. Through a simple gesture of rotation a dimming effect is achieved. The final form, discloses a traditionally hidden component, and makes it obvious. Bearing Dimmer by ECAL / Eduardo Altamirano Castro / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

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This modular system is thought for spaces where digging a cable trench in the wall is not a possibility. In-sight is a socket that does not hide behind the wall but becomes a refined architectural element. In-sight by ECAL / Antonio Severi / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

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Klar is a doorbell taking ceramics’ unique acoustic qualities away from the digital sound. Taking Feller’s collection doorbell proposition, Klar propose a customized doorbell with an asymetric button by using ceramic’s propreties. With an other socket, the sound is vibrating with the ceramic and creates an analog sound. KLAR by ECAL / Youssef Basil / Photo by ECAL Marvin Merkel

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Eclipse is inspired by sunbeam across the sky during the day. This switch allows the user to change the color temperature and control the intensity of light in a room. This system can directly control the temperature of light’s color without using any electronic device. ECLIPSE by ECAL / Fanny Marrot / Photo by Marvin Merkel

ECLIPSE by ECAL / Fanny Marrot / Photo by Marvin Merkel

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Ceramaret company Visit - Photo by Marvin Merkel

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