Design Promotion
List of the 17 supported projects
Concept funding:
• Manon Briod «Growing Stones — a design approach to synthetic biology»
Prototype development funding:
• Matthieu Girel «Stora»
• Swiss Spirit SA «In Out»
• 5777 GmbH «Instant Windows Project»
• TOKTOK GmbH «LEIT & HELD collections»
• Varia Instruments «High-end DJ mixer»
• Collective Swallow «Collection 04 Zum Schwäbli»
• Xénia Lucie Laffely «Don’t forget to sleep»
• Rafael Kouto «SUSPENDED BODIES THAT WILL NEVER FALL»
• Julia Seemann «Notes from the Undergound»
Production funding:
• kollektiv vier design studio GmbH «INSIGHT bath collection»
• Biowatch SA «Le Bracelet»
• earlybird skis GmbH «earlybird skis»
Distribution or development funding:
• schoenstaub GmbH «schoenstaub at Maison Object, Paris»
• POPLIN PROJECT «Y-A-COLLECTION!»
• YVY GmbH «Capsule Collection»
• Playtrip sagl «Playtrip»
Supporting creativity and facilitating market access: Pro Helvetia has developed a tailor-made incentive for young Swiss designers as part of its «New collaborative models – Culture and business» focus: from concept to prototype development, from production to marketing.
For this third call for design projects, Pro Helvetia received more than 89 applications, of which the jury selected 17 projects based on their originality, feasibility and commercial potential.
Zurich fashion designer and jury member Lilla Wicki highlighted the winners’ ability to «think outside the box.» The jury chose projects spanning a wide range of special areas: fashion, object design, textiles, networked objects and mobile applications.
The next call for projects is now open for applications until 1 March 2019.
(Photo: Varia Instruments, «RDM20» © Michal Schorro)
Three studios supported by Pro Helvetia:
PROTOTYPE DEVELOPMENT FUNDING:
5777 GmbH «Instant Windows Project»
The «Instant Windows Project» was founded in 2012 by Wendelin Federer and Reto Togni, after they realized how a broken window can affect the lives of people living in crisis areas. Their wish was to create «economic, universal and transparent isolation,» leading to in a project at the intersection between humanitarian aid and design. After their initial prototype attracted considerable interest from non-governmental organizations, Heinrich Nolte Henner joined the team to strengthen the project’s commercial feasibility.
PRODUCTION FUNDING:
kollektiv vier design studio GmbH «INSIGHT bath collection»
The bathroom is a place of well-being, where people look after themselves. Convinced of the importance of feeling good in this intimate space, Mirjam Huwiler, Johanna Widmer and Eva Zuberbühler seek to enrich and personalize it, and have designed a collection of shower curtains, towels and bath mats. The new «INSIGHT» collection is built around the idea of an interior landscape, conducive to escape, yet without leaving the comforts of one’s home.
DISTRIBUTION OR DEVELOPMENT FUNDING:
Poplin Project «Y-A-COLLECTION!»
The many years spent in the fashion world have prompted Susann Schweizer to explore her individual globalization and impact on the environment. Passionate about crafts and inspired by West African culture, she launched the Poplin project. This socially responsible label combines the creativity of traditional African textiles with contemporary design, in order to meet the needs of our urban lifestyle. The Poplin project is active in Ivory Coast: the brand collaborates on a long-term basis with manufacturers and contributes part of its profits to a women’s cooperative.
