Motong Yang

Motong
Yang

Projects

PRODUCT DESIGN

Motong Yang – Terms of Trade

by Motong Yang

From 17th century tea and porcelain to contemporary supply chains and social media feeds, China has been encountered through objects that circulate globally. These objects do not simply reflect this country; they produce ideas about it. Terms of Trade consists of lacquered cardboard boxes imposed with imagery assembled from export paintings, propaganda posters, and news media. By transforming disposable packaging with lacquer — a material historically associated with permanence, value, and decoration — Terms of Trade draws connections between crafts techniques and contemporary systems of circulation, asking how images of China are produced, consumed, and continually reconstructed.

PRODUCT DESIGN

ECAL X GOOGLE - A Message From Tomorrow

with Chris Kabel

The Industrial Design team at Google (Google ID) initiated a collaboration with ECAL/University of Art and Design Lausanne to develop a concept for a mobile-focused product inspired by a daily ritual. ECAL’s Master Product Design students were invited to envision innovative hardware engaging with contemporary habits. Through compelling storytelling, these conceptual projects consider the human dimension of mobile technology: how it shapes everyday gestures and how our relationships with devices might evolve in the future. This collaboration reflects ECAL’s forward-looking approach to design, combining experimentation, critical thinking, and a strong receptivity to emerging technologies.

PRODUCT DESIGN

ReGrid

with Thélonious Goupil

During this one-week workshop led by Thélonious Goupil, edits were made to a ‘drop false ceiling’ in Bar Gala Lausanne. By hacking the system, playing with existing elements such as lighting or ventilators, the outdate ceiling was given new life without the need for full renovation.

PRODUCT DESIGN

One-Off 1/1

with Augustin Scott de Martinville

For this semester, students were invited to focus on the creation of a “One-Off” of their choice. They were encouraged to free themselves from the issues traditionally associated with industrial design - mass production, costs, market positioning, etc. The project concluded in a silent auction at the ECAL's traditional Christmas Market.