SILMO promotes the talents of tomorrow with the Optical Design Contest. The third edition of this competition, which is open to design students from all over the world, focuses on eyewear accessories that not only correct and protect vision, but also explore new functions and potential uses.
The jury, chaired by Olivier Jault and made up of professionals from the fields of optics and design, met at the beginning of July to assess the projects submitted by the various design schools and select the entries that are most relevant to the theme.
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Olivier Jault is a well-known shoe designer. After passing the exam at the École Supérieure des Arts Appliqués Duperré, he joined the fashion and accessories department. With a bachelor’s degree in applied arts in his pocket, he presented his first shoe collection. He went on to work with numerous renowned brands such as Martin Margiela, Alexander McQueen at Givenchy, Tom Ford at Saint-Laurent, J.M. Weston, Repetto, Jean Paul Gaultier and many others.
Jault, whose passion is shoes, is also co-curator of the exhibition ‘Jean-Paul Gaultier pour Stéphane Kélian: Roman d’une rencontre’ at the Musée de la chaussure in Romans-sur-Isère, which is on display until 3 November 2024.
The jury members examined the projects taking into account the design, creativity and innovation dimension, the use and function of the proposed product within the theme. The feasibility of the project, including the production of a prototype using the 3D printing process, was also assessed.
The nominees for the third Optical Design Contest
The jury will meet at SILMO on the morning of 20 September to select the winner of the third Optical Design Contest from the shortlisted concepts. These are the nominated candidates:
‘Distroal’ by Thomas Deneufbourg (Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique): A pair of glasses designed as a supportive accessory for users with special needs, particularly people with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and anxiety disorders. Distroal means ‘calming’ in Breton.
‘Lucid’ by Perrine Payen (ISD Rubika): ‘Forgotten objects’ such as the pocket watch or the monocle are recycled and given a new lease of life by transforming them into elegant reading magnifiers.
‘Rhoé’ by Theo Vanpoperynghe (ISD Rubika): An original and design-orientated device to combat eye fatigue.
‘Sound Sight’ by Nolan Guenot (Ecole Supérieur De Design Troyes): Bone conduction eyewear, a proven technology reinvented here with an airy aesthetic.
‘Spectapop’ by Camille Grand (ISD Rubika): Glasses with a playful, uncompromising design, pro paparazzi, for visual hide-and-seek.
‘ViewProject’ by Amélie Meersseman (L’école de design Nantes Atlantique): Innovative and design-orientated goggles conceived as ‘over-glasses’ for wearers of prescription glasses.
‘We invite you to discover these innovative projects at SILMO Paris and celebrate with us the talents of tomorrow in the field of optical design,’ say the organisers.
