Richard Authier. Design and industry in Northern Vaud

Richard Authier. Design and industry in Northern Vaud

The project aims to shed light on the career of Richard Authier (Lausanne, 1925–2018), who was an industrial designer at Hermes Paillard International in Yverdon-les-Bains and a pioneer of industrial design in French-speaking Switzerland.

Research project (2024) with Calypso Mahieu Laurent Soldini, Sophie Wietlisbach

Researcher
Sébastien Mettraux

 

A talented draughtsman and industrial designer-builder by trade, Authier joined Paillard in 1947 and remained with the company until his retirement in 1988, a career spanning more than 40 years. He designed typewriters, cameras and record players, as well as complete workstations and exhibition stands. From the 1970s onwards, in addition to his position as head of design at HPI, he pursued a freelance career, designing chronographs for Omega and studies of electric shavers for Braun. His work dates back to the Glorious Thirties and is marked by the advent of new technologies (computers in office automation) and new materials (plastic). A hard worker, Richard Authier was always thinking globally, with an eye to end users. As a result, he contributed to advertising posters, instructions for use and packaging. His work, often credited to the name of the company, won international awards. A book will showcase this research work, highlighting the person of Richard Authier and all the products he designed.

 

Image: Portrait of Richard Authier, with a Bolex 150 camera, n.d. © Personal archives, Richard Authier

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Research material © Personal archives Richard Authier
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Hermes Baby poster © Personal archives Richard Authier
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Montage by Authier based on company brochures, 1962 © Personal archives Richard Authier
Main applicant

Laurent Soldini

Research team

Sébastien Mettraux
Sophie Wietlisbach

Photographer

Calypso Mahieu

Period

1.12.2023 – 31.1.2025

Supported by

HES-SO, Réseau de Compétences Design et Arts Visuels RCDAV