Join Us
Discover how three Swiss designers bring innovative processes to design meaningful products.
The design studios selected for this year’s Swiss Design Accelerator feature innovative creations from plant-based circular and sustainable solutions to fashion design.
Join us and meet them in a casual networking setting on Wednesday, November 9, 2022. The evening will start with a keynote, followed by a presentation by each design studio to learn more about their product.
Program
- 5:30pm – Doors open
- 6:00pm – Event starts: Keynote & Presentation by Designers
- 7:00pm – Networking and light refreshments
- 8:00pm – Event ends
iCal / Outlook
Event start time
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Switzerland + San Francisco
5:30PM -
California
5:30PM -
USA
7:30PM -
Boston and New York
8:30PM -
Brazil
10:30PM -
China
9:30AM -
India
7:00AM -
Switzerland
2:30AM -
Boston
8:30PM -
San Francisco
5:30PM
Keynote
Claude is an industrial designer and currently works at Google, where he leads Industrial Design for Pixel and the AR/VR space, most recently launching the Pixel 7 line of products.
Previously Claude held a position as VP of design at HTC, where he oversaw the design of their smartphones as well as the industry defining VR system, HTC Vive. Claude joined the organization in 2008 after his design agency One & Co was acquired by HTC. As creative director Claude played a central role in turning HTC into a brand recognized for its design. Claude joined One & Co as a Partner in 2001, and helped to grow the firm to become one of the Bay Area’s dominant design forces. Industry leaders like Nike, Burton, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft turned to him to lead the development of their design.
Claude, who was born in Switzerland, started his design career working for Silicon Valley firms IDEO and Pentagram Design. Claude has a degree in industrial design from Art Center College of Design. He is a regular lecturer and design spokesperson for HTC and currently lives in San Francisco.
More about the Swiss Design Accelerator
The Studios
The program presents an eclectic selection of studios who bring innovative processes to design meaningful products:
- Mikafi develops an intelligent coffee roasting machine
- Paula Cermeño León works on sustainable and circular projects related to plant-based wellbeing and skincare
- YVY creates leather statement pieces
Mikafi
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Mikafi aims to become the world's most beloved digital coffee roastery. They are revolutionizing the way we consume coffee – with coffee that, for the first time ever, can be created and roasted online or in a shop location.
Mikafi are a team of designers, engineers and business enthusiasts building a well synchronized coffee roasting ecosystem containing an electric tabletop roasting machine, a digital platform to manage coffee and involve the end user to transform coffee roasting into a sensuous experience. They do everything to enable coffee selling businesses to serve the next generation of coffee experiences with unique and ultimate fresh coffee.
Mikafi’s mission is backed by The Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia, Innosuisse, other research grants, a VC as well as private investors.
Instagram: @mikaficoffee
Paula Cermeño León
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Paula Cermeño León is a product designer born in Peru, now based in Lausanne (Switzerland). Her projects are focused on biodiversity and our relationship with plants. Since her studies in Product Design at ECAL (École cantonale d'art de Lausanne), she has been combining tools of industrial design with research of natural materials and circular strategies. She values the synergy between design and the natural sciences, and has carried out recent projects both with local businesses in Lima, Peru, as well as through a six-month residency at La Becque Résidence d’Artistes in La Tour-de-Peilz.
Instagram: @paulacermen.oleon
YVY
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In just a few years, YVY became one of the leading independent brands for statement leather accessories. An unexpected combination of Swiss quality and perfectionism, Italian leather expertise, and Hollywood exposure put Yvonne Reichmuth’s brand on the fashion map. While blurring the lines between clothing and accessories, the aesthetic and identity of YVY has become clearer than ever. Its specialization made YVY instantly distinguishable and resulted in a high recognition.
Every piece is designed by Yvonne and is then brought to life in her studio in Zurich, Switzerland by her and her team; while some pieces are made in partnership with Italian artisans. All collections are made out of the finest Italian leather, primarily vegetable-tanned, proving how seductive sustainability can be.
Instagram: @yvyleather
