After completing my apprenticeship as a 3D poly designer at a large Swiss furniture store and obtaining my Federal Vocational Baccalaureate, I worked in my profession for three years. I learned a lot, but at some point, I realised that I wanted to develop myself further. The desire to question things more deeply and to gain a new understanding of seemingly mundane everyday cultures ultimately led me to study Trends & Identity at ZHdK.
I find it particularly valuable that the programme doesn't just focus on design, but also enables us to recognise and reflect on social contexts that go far beyond the world of objects. It offers the opportunity to gain new perspectives and to critically examine one’s own work: Why do I design? What impact does my work have? And what am I unaware of?
One project that has stayed with me is «Chrömli mit Gfühl» (Gingerbread with Feeling). Feelings can be «heavy in the stomach», but they can also be «digested». I was interested in this duality. I wanted to find a way to make it easier to talk about feelings, so I developed gingerbread forms that express nine different feelings such as lust, envy, and joy. The shapes were created intuitively, and I found that some emotions came out more freely, while others were more «conceptual». It was nice to see how people reacted differently to the shapes: while I saw envy in a gingerbread cookie, people at the opening saw other feelings – which was exactly the point. I didn't want to create a universal meaning, but rather open up a space for discussion. What made this project special for me was that it started conversations about feelings in a simple and accessible way. It's not about definitive answers. Sometimes the value lies in the open questions and the invitation to think together. This is exactly the attitude I want to maintain in the future.
Where is my path taking me? In loops and circles, I don't know exactly where, but that's OK. I will try to keep theory and practice as close together as possible. For now, I'm just learning.