Project manager : Magdalena Gerber

Team : Magdalena Gerber, chef de projet, CERCCO, HEAD — Genève, Eric Rosset, Chloé Peytermann, Adrien Rumeau, Guillaume Balser, Karim El Mellouli, Mehdi Bakir

Research focus : Matériaux, matérialités, matérialisations

Period : 2012-2014

Partners : Institut des Sciences et Technologies Industrielles (inSTI), Matériaux et nanotechnologies et Conception Microtechniques (MNCM), Hepia

Funding : HES-SO : RC Design et MaCHOP

Outcomes : The most important results of the project GraphicCeram are a production of a wide range of substrates like watch dials, small volumes of ceramics. A PVDTribological research and analysis and a laser engravings complete this research. Secondly, a standardization of experimental methods and processes and thirdly, by the acquisition of interdisciplinary knowledge.

Developtment : A copy of ISSUE, presenting the results, was released in 2014.

Like the alchemists who sought to invent gold and porcelain during the 16th century, the researchers involved in the GraphicCeram project experimented with the combination of mineral materials, the association of different surface treatments, variations in firing temperatures and with mechanical interventions after firing (sanding, diamond polishing), in order to obtain unique materials and surfaces, able to be produced in limited series.

A new range of mineral materials was developed through a variety of processes : the fusion of porcelains and clays, the application of enamels onto these new substrates, ceramic laser copying on the latter and, finally, laser engraving and vaporization of ceramic materials and metals.

This research, funded by the Design and Engineering networks of competence of the University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland (HES-SO), led to the production of a range of items that could be qualified as Mineral-Design. This means that the fusion of the minerals, when transformed by firing between 800° and 1300°C, creates a multitude of unique materials and surfaces. The results are mainly intended for use in the fields of fine watchmaking and jewellery but also in object design. In parallel, with this, different characterizations of the substrates produced were carried out in order to relate this laboratory work to the contemporary concerns of watchmaking and jewellery design with their many quality requirements.

A selection of the work was exhibited at the Professional Watchmaking and Jewellery Fair (EPHJ) in Geneva in 2012, where it aroused considerable interest among professionals of these fields.This project originated from CERCCO — the Centre for Experimentation and Research in Contemporary Ceramics at Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD — Genève) and from Institut inSTI, Materials, Nanotechnology and Microtechnology (MNCM) of the Geneva Institute of Technology, Architecture and Landscape (Hepia — Genève).

Download publication ISSUE here