EPFL+ECAL Lab

05/09/2025

Nicolas Henchoz, Director of the EPFL+ECAL Lab, shares insights on human-centered innovation on this podcast episode.

In conversation with Thomas Schneider, Consulate General of Switzerland in Vancouver.

It's PODCAST DAY! 🎧🇨🇦🇨🇭

In this episode, we sit down with Nicolas Henchoz, the founding Director of the EPFL+ECAL Lab, the design research centre at EPFL in Switzerland.

Nicolas wears many hats - engineer, art director, curator, researcher, and author – and leads projects that transform technical performance into meaningful human experiences. In this episode, he shares his passion for disruptive innovation, showing how real-world experimentation can uncover the drivers of technology adoption and create lasting impact.

This conversation was hosted by Thomas Schneider, Consul General of Switzerland in Vancouver.

👉 iTunes: https://apple.co/3k3zkgE
👉 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3axbruF
👉 Youtube: https://bit.ly/3gNLCcU

21/06/2024

Merci RTSinfo ! Fruit des travaux menés à l’EPFL+ECAL Lab, Praeludium tire parti du son, de la lumière et des technologies émergentes pour renforcer les particularités d’un enregistrement musical, comme le timbre ou la texture. Cette installation immersive ouvre la voie à des approches inédites pour que la musique classique, au cœur de notre héritage culturel, retrouve un intérêt grandissant auprès des générations actuelles et futures.

Développée en collaboration avec la RTS ainsi que l’association Acousmatik, Praeludium sera présentée au public pour la première fois lors du Festival International de Musiques Sacrées, Fribourg, du 29 juin au 7 juillet 2024.

Pour en savoir plus sur ce projet de recherche : https://epfl-ecal-lab.ch/research-projects/praeludium/

29/03/2024

FR – Participez à une expérience immersive sur la musique classique ! Dans le cadre du projet Praeludium, nous recherchons des volontaires pour tester un nouveau dispositif immersif qui explore la richesse de la musique classique et vise à rendre les expériences musicales plus accessibles à toutes et tous.

Votre participation contribuera au développement de cette installation. Nous vous demanderons de la tester lors d'une session d'environ une heure. Les tests auront lieu du 11 au 19 avril 2024, à l’EPFL+ECAL Lab à Renens. Ils seront menés en français ou en anglais, selon votre préférence. Rejoignez cette étude menée par notre équipe en réservant votre session sur https://calendly.com/eel_research/praeludium-usertest

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EN – Take part in a study on classical music! As part of the Praeludium project, we’re looking for volunteers to test a new immersive device that explores the richness of classical music and aims to make musical experiences more accessible to everyone.

Your participation will contribute to the development of this immersive installation. We’ll ask you to try it out in a session lasting around one hour. The tests will take place from April 11 to 19, 2024, at the EPFL+ECAL Lab in Renens. They will be led in French or English, according to your preference. Join this study conducted by our team, by booking your session on https://calendly.com/eel_research/praeludium-usertest

06/02/2024

Looking back at the great Switch Diet Consortium Meeting that took place in Berlin last week. This European project aims to support a transition to healthier, more sustainable dietary choices throughout EU. We're glad to be part of it and to pioneer research on the role of digital tools in advancing healthy and sustainable diets. Our mission spans over diverse audiences, from everyday citizens to culinary experts and food suppliers. First results to come soon.

24/01/2024

At artgenève 2024, during the Responsible Art Market (RAM) Annual Conference, Nicolas Henchoz, Director of the EPFL+ECAL Lab, will take part in the panel dedicated to “The Art in Artificial Intelligence”. In this session, different experts will discuss how Artificial Intelligence is being used in the art market and share their perspectives on how to benefit from it whilst avoiding the pitfalls and risks.

This 8th edition of the RAM Annual Conference will take place during Artgenève 2024, on January 25, in Salon d’art Palexpo.

The panel is moderated by Mathilde Heaton, Phillips Auctioneers, RAM Taskforce & RAM London Committee. With Eric Drass, aka “shardcore”, Artist & Curator, Nicolas Henchoz, Founding Director of the EPFL+ECAL Lab, and Alexandre Jotterand, attorney at id est avocats.

More info on https://artlawfoundation.com/fda-events/ram-annual-conference-from-antiquities-to-artificial-intelligence-how-to-navigate-todays-art-market/

17/01/2024

Apply to our Postgraduate Programme in Design Research! Run by the EPFL+ECAL Lab, this unique two-year course combines advanced education with a real-life research project. Each year, we recruit 2 to 4 candidates to work and learn with us, developing professional and academic skills for a career in innovation and design research.

The programme welcomes creative thinkers with backgrounds in design, art and emerging technologies who are ultimately aiming to work in academia, design research and innovation.

Application deadline: ‪April 15, 2024
‪Start: September 1, 2024
Occupation: 100% (30% MAS DRDI - 70% Research Assistant)

More about it on https://epfl-ecal-lab.ch/education/postgraduate-programme-in-design-research/

10/01/2024

Thank you TEDxMartigny for having us! Nicolas Henchoz, Director of the EPFL+ECAL Lab, shared insights and perspectives on exploring the potential of technology through design and artistic practices.

Too often, the digital industry forgets that it cannot rely on technology only. Both design and art help to give meaning to innovation, adapting it to the needs of users and, in doing so, avoiding an economic fiasco.

Explorer le potentiel des technologies grâce au design et à la création artistique. Car trop souvent, l’industrie du numérique oublie qu’elle ne doit pas uni...

05/12/2023

Our Aidee project featured in FRAME, thank you! Read the complete article on https://frameweb.com/article/wellbeing/will-smart-home-technology-prime-the-home-to-support-individual-health-and-wellbeing

Addressing individual wellbeing, this research led in collaboration with CSEM and ESTEE (Earth Space Technical Ecosystem Enterprise) explores how qualitative expression of self-tracking data can foster strong emotional and cognitive engagement.

Smart home technology has potential beyond the use of assistance devices. It can serve individual health and wellbeing, transforming the domestic environment into a site for preventative and maintenance care.

23/11/2023

On November 23, EPFL+ECAL Lab and BCU Fribourg / KUB Freiburg unveil a new research project: Évokâ. This experimental installation resulting from the collaboration between the two institutions, aims to explore how the BCU's heritage collections can bring citizens together around a collective identity and reinforce the social cohesion. This research project has brought together a multidisciplinary team of exhibition managers, computer scientists, designers and psychologists.

Based on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, Évokâ turns archive documents such as photos, maps and posters, into a living part of Fribourg's identity, by enabling multiple users to interact with thousands of historic documents.

Join us for the official opening on November 23, at 5.30 pm, at the Hôtel cantonal de Fribourg (Place de l'Hôtel de Ville 2, 1700 Fribourg). It will be followed by an aperitif and a conference on artificial intelligence “Mit KI leben” by Anna Jobin, from the University of Fribourg, at 7 pm.

More about the projects on https://epfl-ecal-lab.ch/research-projects/evoka/

22/11/2023

ECAL OPEN DAY • Join us on Saturday November 25, from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm, at ECAL/Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne to discover more about our Master of Advanced Studies in Design Research for Digital Innovation and all the ECAL programmes.

Run by the EPFL+ECAL Lab, the postgraduate programme in Design Research combines advanced education with a real-life research project, preparing designers professionally and academically for a career in innovation. Occupation: 100% (30% MAS DRDI - 70% Research Assistant)

We will present this two-year programme in detail during a short conference at 4:15 pm, in the Auditoire Nussbaumer at ECAL.

Further information about our postgraduate programme in Design Research on https://epfl-ecal-lab.ch/education/postgraduate-programme-in-design-research/

17/11/2023

Looking back at our annual event ! Such a joy to welcome at the EPFL+ECAL Lab our board members as well as many experts and partners. A great occasion to discuss art, design, technology, and how to generate a sustainable impact, for citizens, States and companies.

The evening started with a debate on “Opening Perspectives with Design: Interactive Techniques and AI for Peace, Environment and Health” with Frédérique Pain, Director of ENSCI, Benedikt Wechsler, Ambassador and Head of Digital at FDFA, Yves Daccord, Director of ICRC 2010-2020, and Patrick J. Gyger, Director of Plateforme 10. Then, after the projection of short video interviews led with Rafael Lozano Hemmer, Refik Anadol and Theo Jensen, the guests could discover the latest installations and research works carried out by the EPFL+ECAL Lab.

Finally, the Sylvie Rusconi Foundation for young talent in design research awarded the excellent work of Margherita Motta, collaborator at the EPFL+ECAL Lab, for the project Aidee. Big congrats to her!

A warm thank you to everyone.


📷 ECAL/Marvin Merkel

16/11/2023

In collaboration with BCU Fribourg / KUB Freiburg, we will unveil our new installation Evokâ on November 23, 2023. To discover it, join us at 5.30 pm at the Hôtel cantonal de Fribourg (Place de l'Hôtel de Ville 2, 1700 Fribourg).

L’EPFL+ECAL Lab et la BCU dévoilent le dispositif mobile interactif Évokâ. Le projet a pour but d’imaginer comment les archives peuvent rassembler les citoyens et citoyennes autour d’une identité collective : celle de notre canton de Fribourg.