Alexis Georgacopoulos, Director, ECAL
Davide Fornari, Head of R&D sector, ECAL
Margherita Banchi, JRC coordinator, ECAL

Silvio Rebholz (ECAL)
TV studio sets – A space for reality and fiction

TV studio sets are spatial constructions in which TV formats, such as news, talks or game shows, are produced – always with the intention of transferring them onto screens. Looking deliberately at TV studio designs, it is striking how unusually shaped they are. Elaborately curved sofas or desks with integrated LEDs rarely surround us beyond the TV screen. Remarkably, these elements repeat across show genres and national borders, suggesting that it is about more than free formal expression.


Nicollier Ariane (HKB)
Allegories gone wild: animal rhetoric in Printed Propaganda from 1875 to 1945

By observing the patterns of animal rhetoric in satirical caricature this research analyses the transcultural visual language of defaming humour in propaganda between 1875 and 1945 – a time of growing production in printed media. Animals in propaganda were used to defame the political opponent, but how do they trigger dehumanization? Which recurring patterns are recognizable when comparing images from different countries involved in conflicts? What makes animal rhetoric such an effective tool for dehumanization? Because of the harmless appearance, allegorical images were persuasive during the social-political turmoil of those times, although it is still valid until today.


Annika Albrecht (FHNW)
I am not there: The challenge of implementing 3D technologies in the fashion design practice

I am not there explores the implementation of 3D technologies in the fashion design sampling process as a possible solution towards a more sustainable fashion supply chain. With a focus on knitwear, the project deals with the inherent technological peculiarities of knitting, while examining the challenges of digital sampling. Focusing on some crucial parts of the process – like rendering textiles – this work is structured around an array of practical experiments both analogue and digital.

Silvio Rebholz (ECAL), Nicollier Ariane (HKB), Annika Albrecht (FHNW)

Aishwarya Kaimal (HSLU)
Beyond Sight: A study on enriching and empowering the visually challenged Swiss citizens to take independent informed decisions while grocery shopping

This research project is an attempt to design accessible shopping experience for the visually impaired, blind, low vision community. In Switzerland, population is aging rapidly with the rising sociodemographic situation and life expectancy. A society in transition presents immense challenges and design opportunities for the FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) industries. It is assumed that accurate product labelling, structure and positioning make it effortless for consumers to learn the information that includes the nutritional value, expiry, price and to make accurate purchase decisions. However, the visually challenged community struggle to identify and locate the information on products, considering there is no distinction between the labels and the package. The fact that conventional labels are all interpreted visually suggests that labels hardly have any significance for a blind or visually impaired person. Hence this research ventures into the realms on how to create and craft an inclusive, accessible seamless experience by using the Double Diamond and DARE Framework. The aim is to explore multisensory tactile and textured labels, information placement and positioning on products, the relevance of tactile based labels and the importance of an accessible navigation.


Claudia Colombo (FHNW)
Latent images: A critical exploration of machine learning’s visual knowledge

Despite living in a society who relies on artificial intelligence to envision its future, humanity recognizes the defects and limitations of the AI with algorithmic bias being one of the most discussed topics that affects every aspect of our society at different extents. AI is an especially sensitive matter for those working with images on a regular basis, such as visual communicators.
This research questions the role of intelligent machines being able to understand the image data, process, transform and manipulate them to generate artefacts. This project aims at investigating how these images are perceived by humans and machines alike.


Juliana Schneider (ZHdK)
Designing for more than human futures

The past decades have been dominated by a human-centred approach to all things designed. But as we are redefining our relationship to technology and nature, it becomes clear how deeply interwoven our lives are with non-humans. In response, academic and artistic disciplines have been looking beyond the anthropocentric lens and considering more than just humans in their practice. Nevertheless, it seems that human-centredness is engraved in our designerly thinking and making. In addition, the concept of ‘More Than Human’ presents itself as a highly complex system that may prove increasingly hard to comprehend.
This research aims at questioning the prevailing design principles and subsequently pave the way into ‘More than Human’ futures. Moreover, by identifying and decoding this paradigm shift, this project seeks to build bridges between the ‘now’ and ‘next to come’, open up new possibilities, and expand horizons to other ways of knowing.

Aishwarya Kaimal (HSLU), Claudia Colombo (FHNW), Juliana Schneider (ZHdK)

Robin Delerce (HEAD)
Projecting Avoriaz

The Fantastic Film Festival of Avoriaz took place from 1973 to 1993. Over 21 editions, Avoriaz became a major event for the fantastic, sci-fi and horror movie scene. The setting of the ski-resort, the organic architecture, the selection of movies and the prestigious guests were all parameters of an event with a strong imaginary character. The aim of this festival was to transport its audience to a fictional reality for one week, just like a screening of a fantastic film is supposed to take you into its reality for the duration of the movie. This thesis explores the remains of this ephemeral, surreal and sprawling event, from its wild beginning to its slow, hungover sinking.


Ferrarelli Patrik (HKB)
The students agency: Design service and learning through activities

Today designers are not only required to have craftsmanship, creative solutions and technical know-how, but also project and self-management skills. Together, these are essential factors for ensuring a livelihood in the profession. Today’s design education teaches many of the creative skills, but organisational, communicative and strategic ways of thinking are usually neglected. Trying out real assignments during the study period could strengthen these so-called soft skills. The idea of a student agency integrated into the design school, which realises service projects, would give students the opportunity to strengthen their self-organisation, communication skills and project management right from the start of their studies. In interdisciplinary teams and accompanied by coaches as well as in exchange with the older semesters, the agency members work on corresponding assignments. In addition, they are given the opportunity to build up a network of potential clients from the professional world. The Student Agency is intended to form a link between studies and the world of work.


Walesca Frank (ZHdK)
Seeing me: An overwhelming history

Being Black in a White Society, I want to explore Black people's positive impact on Black people locally. How do we navigate and communicate our dreams and desires and shape our lives? What are we passing on to younger people that we may have been missing? Representation on the most immediate and tangible level. Through a collaborative space, we will encourage face-to-face interaction between Black people in the local community – real people telling real stories that are thought-provoking and, most importantly, inspiring.

Robin Delerce (HEAD), Ferrarelli Patrik (HKB), Walesca Frank (ZHdK)

Martin Dusek (HSLU)
Foster better conversations between city developers and residents

Citizen participation is a core concern in the development of modern cities. To strengthen sustainability and resilience in urban areas, as many stakeholder groups as possible are to be involved in the planning process. This study uses a dialogical approach to explore these interactions between stakeholders. On one hand, the chosen framework provides a novel way to analyse the data and helps to formulate suggestions to improve the current development approach. On the other hand, by adapting the mental model to the context of urban development, the canvas is critically questioned, enriching the young field of conversation design.


Augustin Ligner (ECAL)
Conditioning the unexpected

The aim of this project is to bring together two opposite states of consciousness: intuition and reflection, and to explore serendipity. The combination of these two reasoning can create space for freedom and open possibilities. Reflection is normally a long, logical, concrete and cold approach. On the opposite, intuition is illogical, warm but risky. This dialogue seeks to know where creativity sits. Imagine drawing a circle, where would you dance: On its inside it or on its edge? This research explores the margins of creation, the origin of ideas and strategies within the creative environment.


Chloé Michel (HEAD)
The Internet geography

The Internet is often seen as something immaterial: Barlow, in his Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace, declares: “There is no matter here”. However, the Internet relies on a pretty physical infrastructure that we all use every day. Why is its materiality so often forgotten? For Boris Beaude, geography is not comfortable with the Internet, therefore it is often dismissed as a space.
This research aims at analysing how the Internet has been represented through maps during its evolution and how these representations have influenced our perception of the Internet as a geographically anchored space.

Martin Dusek (HSLU), Augustin Ligner (ECAL), Chloé Michel (HEAD)

Helen Muggli, Design Specialist, The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia

Anna Niederhäuser, Project Head, Swiss Design Awards, Federal Office of Culture

Michael Hueter, Director, Design Prize Switzerland

Registrations to the workshops will be opened on November 18th

Davide Fornari, Head of R&D sector, ECAL
Margherita Banchi, JRC coordinator, ECAL

DJ-set and audio performance by Caterina De Nicola