L’Etagere-en-Bois
IMM Cologne’s D3 Contest picks ECAL grad Lucien Gumy’s innovative bookshelves
Seeing Lausanne University of Art and Design (ECAL) students top international design competitions is nothing new. Most recently, the prestigious D3 Contest, part of the international furniture fair IMM Cologne, has awarded its first prize distinction to 2012 product design graduate Lucien Gumy. Gumy was chosen among more than 670 applicants from 40 countries.
Gumy’s “L’étagère-en-bois” (“wood shelves” in French), can be fully assembled and dismantled without any tools—no mounts, no nails, no drilling, only pieces of massive wood carved out to be joined together. The project explores the relationship between horizontal and vertical dimensions and, following a series of gradual simplifications, has evolved into a refined wood structure that stands out for its lightness and subtlety.
D3 Contest sets itself apart from most design competitions for its capacity to gather design-curious visitors and industry professionals alike. Only open to students or young designers who graduated less than three years prior to the event, the contest is particularly cherished among emerging designers, who see the opportunity to ally experimentation and originality while addressing manufacturers. Held by Koelnmesse and organized in collaboration with the German Design Council, the event is an occasion to catch a glimpse at the up-and-coming generation of product designers.
For more information on the competition and Gumy’s work visit the D3 Contest’s website.
Images by Lucien Gumy and Bruno Aeberli for ECAL
