The USM Design Grant is a study grant launched by the FONDATION USM to encourage innovation by rewarding a student’s project. The grant amounts to CHF 25,000. This competition takes place each year, alternating between Geneva and Lausanne, and is granted in turn to students from HEAD/Haute école d’art et design Genève and ECAL/Ecole cantonale d’art de Lausanne.

For the 6th edition of the USM Design Grant awarded by the FONDATION USM, ECAL Bachelor Industrial Design students, under the guidance of Swiss designer Christian Spiess, were asked to design new outdoor seating for the terrace of the Théâtre de Vidy in Lausanne, initially designed by Max Bill for the 1964 Swiss National Exhibition.

As part of the theatre's renovation, the students worked in pairs to design seatings that would provide a moment of comfort for visitors and passers-by. In addition to the aspects of practicality, seating comfort and weather resistance, a simple handling of the furniture should be considered, allowing the terrace to be adapted to different needs. Proposals providing optimized storage space and mobility have been developed accordingly. 

The designs will be produced in multiple copies in the theatre's workshop and are therefore tailored around the skills of their carpentry, metalworking and sewing workshops.

The project was conducted in collaboration with the FONDATION USM. The USM Design Grant has been given to Massimo Scheidegger & Bruno Pauli Caldas (winner) and Alicia Berclaz & Tiziana Rocha da Silva (honourable mention).

Design Grant

MASSIMO SCHEIDEGGER & BRUNO PAULI CALDAS
Vidy Armchair

The concept of the VIDY ARMCHAIR is based on the observation of the building by Max Bill, his color studies, the atmosphere of Théâtre de Vidy, echoing the architectural surroundings with its tubular steel frames construction. Wheels allow for versatile arrangements, the stackable frame enables space-saving storage and an attachable parasol holder provides shade. Ready for the next act, the VIDY ARMCHAIR is robust and combines durable materials to create a special atmosphere in homage to the theatre, inviting the guests to stay a little longer.

Special Mention

ALICIA BERCLAZ &
TIZIANA ROCHA DA SILVA
Côté Cour Bench

Intended as a deck chair CÔTÉ COUR BENCH was specially designed for the inner courtyard of the Théâtre de Vidy. Its simple and practical shape with two backrests heights offers different seating positions so that visitors can use it alone or together. Thanks to its wheels, the bench can be easily moved like a wheelbarrow and conveniently stored upright for optimised storage.