Design: Results of the Call for Projects
Call for Applications
Starting date for new entries:
From mid-December 2019
(deadline: 1 March 2020)
List of the 16 supported projects
Concept funding:
• Thomas Geiger, Lea Schmidt, «Cellulose 3D-Printing — At the intersection of design and technology»
• Alice Wäfler, «Land(s)mann -project for an industrially knitted rug made out of locally sourced wool»
• studio colony GmbH, «Optimized Cargo Bike for the Last Mile»
• Noemi Niederhauser, Jennifer Niederhauser Schlup, «Much Rooom»
• Beata Modrzynska, «Paputki. Shoes from up-cycled leather and biocomposite. Discursive design project»
Prototype development funding:
• Akert and Brechbühl GmbH, «Garçoa, The chocolate experience – taste and design»
• Dimitri Bähler, «Project linked to the Arita Residency»
• AATB GmbH, «Phasma lamp»
Production funding:
• After Work Studio, «You must remove belts before walking through the metal detector»
• NINA YUUN, «Swirl: The Myth of Authority»
• SOL SOL ITO GmbH
Distribution or development funding:
• After Work Studio, «PR and marketing»
• Studio Holdener GmbH «Participation to Paris Fashion Week»
• Vanessa Schindler, «PR and marketing»
• Edition Julie Joliat, «Online shop and marketing»
• kollektiv vier design studio GmbH, «Online store + participation to Maison & Objet»
As part of the focus on «New Cooperation Models Culture and Business 2016-2020», Pro Helvetia is promoting the creativity of young designers and facilitating their access to markets. Swiss designers receive backing from concept to prototype development and production through to marketing.
For the fourth call for proposals in spring 2019, a total of 77 candidates submitted their diverse projects relating to product, fashion or textile design. As jury member Damon Bonser noted, the Swiss design sector is characterised by energy and fresh creative thinking. The jury paid special attention to the long-term business potential of the projects.
The jury selected 16 projects for customised promotion. These projects impressed through their innovative ideas and sustainable thinking: some of them deal with «upcycling» and the biodegradability of materials.
The next call for proposals has now opened and will run until 1st September 2019.
Four design projects promoted by Pro Helvetia:
Concept funding
Thomas Geiger, Lea Schmidt, «Cellulose 3D-Printing — At the intersection of design and technology»
The Empa research institute of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich has discovered how to use renewable cellulose for 3D printing. In cooperation with the designer Lea Schmidt, plans call for developing an application at the interface of design and technology that is tailored to the specific characteristics and qualities of cellulose and the particularities of the manufacturing process.
Prototype development funding
Akert and Brechbühl GmbH, «Garçoa: The chocolate experience – taste and design»
Swiss chocolate is known far beyond the country’s borders and is appreciated worldwide. Now Garçoa wishes to set new standards by rethinking chocolate’s shape and aesthetic appearance, thereby changing the taste experience.
Production funding
After Work Studio, «You must remove belts before walking through the metal detector»
After Work Studio (AWS) is a fashion label that combines sportiness and feminine elegance with the help of high-quality materials. AWS, which supports sustainable, local production of its clothing, presented «You must remove belts before walking through the metal detector» at Mode Suisse in February 2019 and at the DACH Showroom during Paris Fashion Week in May 2019.
Distribution or development funding
Edition Julie Joliat, Online shop und Marketing für «Agenda»
Every year, graphic designer Julie Joliat produces an agenda, a unique calendar with different concepts. The size and basic layout remain the same, but the theme, typeface, design and colour change. Each one has an underlying message that encourages people to challenge themselves. This gives rise to a combination of a planner, diary, notebook and book.
