Arts
Connecting Swiss Designers with the US Industry.
Taking place from November 7–13, 2022, the accelerator program will introduce the selected Swiss designers to the US market, with a focus on the Bay Area ecosystem and design industry. The goal of the program is to build meaningful connections with relevant industry players and create business opportunities. Swissnex’s experience and established network will enable the studios to access key industry experts from the US West Coast and to reach their entrepreneurial goals.
The Program
Swissnex in San Francisco and Pro Helvetia jointly announce the second edition of the Swiss Design Accelerator, offering a selection of young Swiss talents a tailor-made coaching, skill development and matchmaking program in San Francisco.
This program includes:
- One-on-one pre-program coaching with industry experts to define the goals for each design studio and understand the US business culture
- Business coaching: how to build your business and accelerate it
- Visibility on the US West Coast through events, content and media
- Leveraging design for impact and design for social responsibility
- Mentoring with local experts and visits to relevant design companies
- Workshops on relevant tools for the US market (presenting the studio in the local context, intellectual property)
- A tailor made matchmaking program based on the studio’s entrepreneurial goals
- Financial support for travel and accommodation expenses
Participating Design Studios
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Bio
Mikafi
Revolutionizing the way we consume coffeeMikafi revolutionizes the way we consume coffee – with coffee, that for the first time ever, can be created and roasted online or in a coffee shop location. The team of five business enthusiasts/engineers/designers built a well-synchronized coffee roasting ecosystem, containing an electric tabletop roasting machine and a digital platform to manage coffee from farm to cup.
The brand’s tabletop mini roasting appliance, called MCR 1, allows coffee beans to be roasted on demand, reducing overproduction and waste.
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Bio
Paula Cermeño León
Industrial DesignerPaula Cermeño León is an industrial designer who showcases the value of plants and biodiversity by developing products and material experimentation, notably in the fields of skincare and well-being. She combines her design skills, which she developed during her studies at ECAL in Switzerland, with expertise from professionals working with plants in Switzerland and Peru. Among Paula’s designs is her Refined Remedies collection of medicinal products for minor wounds and menstrual pain, which are infused with plant extracts and present a contemporary take on herbal remedies.
In collaboration with Peruvian wellbeing brand Misha Rastrera, Paula is currently developing a family of solid clay masks with local clays, oils, and grains, which will be launched in 2023 on the Peruvian market. Moreover, as part of Paula’s academic work, the magazine Biodesigned, in partnership with Cumulus Association, recently published her article called «Retracing the relations between plants and our wellbeing through product design».
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Bio
YVY - Yvonne Reichmuth
DesignerYVY is a fashion label founded by designer Yvonne Reichmuth in 2015, which designs and manufactures statement leather pieces in Zurich. The brand produces hand-made and seasonal-independent accessories such as wallets, belts, jewelry, and bags, in addition to body harnesses and clothing. YVY stands for durability, fair conditions, and transparency throughout the entire manufacturing process.
YVY is delighted to present the «TIME» series, which will kick off with a book launch and a gallery takeover event.