The Shoe Reform workshop, led by designer Michel Charlot and Siddhartha Berns, representative of AddiPole — a hub for reverse engineering and additive manufacturing — brought students together for an innovative exploration of 3D scanning technologies, in collaboration with Technopôle Sainte-Croix.
Workshop (2023) with Michel Charlot, Siddartha Berns
Over the course of a week, participants worked in pairs to reinvent existing footwear using CREAFORM 3D scanners. Starting from physical shoe models, students engaged in reverse engineering, digital modeling, and the creation of new concepts blending function and formal expression.
Using 3D scanning, they were able to capture the precise shape and texture of existing shoes and turn them into editable digital models. Some participants added ergonomic elements, while others redesigned the structure to explore new aesthetics or functions. This hands-on process allowed for a high degree of creative freedom in customization, rapid prototyping, and iterative design development.
Titled TECHNO WORKSHOPS, a series of workshops explored the creative potential of different technologies in the context of industrial design. Students were able to discover Additive Manufacturing with Rapid Liquid Print, Artificial Intelligence with the EPFL+ECAL Lab, and 3D Scanning with Michel Charlot and the Technopôle Sainte-Croix. These workshops gave them the opportunity to experiment with and reflect on the potential of such technologies, and to envision how they can be integrated into the design process — from early ideation and exploration to the tangible realization of objects and concepts.
Project
Project
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Philippe Malouin
In collaboration with the renowned cutlery brand, students from the Bachelor in Industrial Design drew inspiration from the iconic Swiss Army Knife to create original and innovative concepts.
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
with Stéphane Halmaï-Voisard, Julie Richoz
Long before modern equipment, there was a single star travelers looked to when the ground gave no clues, steady above the horizon, marking north through even the darkest nights. In collaboration with Helinox, the Korean brand specialising in ultra-lightweight and compact furniture, ECAL Bachelor Industrial Design students, under the guidance of designer Julie Richoz, have designed ingenious, foldable and portable lights. Made for the outdoors, yet naturally at home anywhere.
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
by Damien Barman
Modular Parking Terrace. Designed for restaurants that temporarily occupy parking spaces during the summer, this modular terrace offers a standardized alternative to custom-built installations. It is a reusable solution that can be adapted to different locations and expanded when needed. The terrace is composed of half-parking-space modules that connect together to fit a variable number of parking spaces. It features a fabric roof that unfolds accordion-style along rails using a rope system, allowing it to be opened or closed from the end of the terrace without disturbing users. Fully demountable for easy winter storage, the structure is made of galvanized steel, while the flooring is constructed from maritime pine panels.
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
by Laura Cipriano
Roll3 is a universally adjustable pair of 3D glasses that explores a new way of inhabiting vision. Flexible, rollable, and made from a single material, it adapts to different face shapes as well as to the wearing of prescription glasses. It replaces traditional temples with a support system based on gentle pressure at the temples, allowing for quick and intuitive placement, either directly on the face or over other glasses. Made from PET, it simplifies manufacturing and facilitates recycling at the end of its life cycle. In a context where around 640,000 pairs of 3D glasses were used in Switzerland in 2025 and 81% of the population wears some form of visual aid, Roll3 questions the sustainability of these ephemeral objects and their potential for transformation.
BA INDUSTRIAL DESIGN
by Benjamin Claus
UKS (Urban Keep Safe) is an urban storage system designed for municipalities and event organisers. Conceived for temporary deployments, festivals, marathons or seasonal installations, it offers a simple infrastructure for users to secure their personal belongings. The flexible bags rely on a stainless steel mesh combined with water-resistant fabric to offer a lighter and more compact solution to traditional lockers, while remaining weather-resistant and theft-deterrent. UKS fits on a standard pallet when disassembled, ready to be stored away and redeployed the following next big event.