Chair in Watch Design

MA application deadline: April 18, 2017

Geneva School of Art and Design (HEAD)
Boulevard James-Fazy 15
1201 – Genève
Switzerland

www.head-geneve.ch

HEAD – Genève is the only university in Switzerland to offer a BA and MA program in Jewelry and Accessory Design, specializing in personal products including a specific pathway in Watch Design. The Watch Design program is dedicated to watchmaking design and culture. Students learn about watchmaking design and the marketing and strategic challenges, trends and heritage issues relating to the watchmaking industry. Watch Design is taught in partnership with watch manufacturers or experts from the watchmaking sector; and benefits from a partnership with the FHH—Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie and with the department of Watch Engineering of the Geneva University of Engineering and Architecture (HEPIA). Upon completion of the course, students will be able to work in the field of watchmaking design, either for watchmaking global brands or for watch manufacturers.

The following program is given by designers and Swiss as well as international professionals from the watchmaking industry and experts from the field:
–Watchmaking Design and manufacturing
–Watchmaking products
–Watchmaking complications (in association with the University of engineering HEPIA)
–Packaging design and product environment
–Advanced 2D design (Adobe Suite)
–Advanced 3D modelling and rendering
–History of Watchmaking (in association with the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie)
–Marketing of Luxury and Watchmaking Products
–Brand analysis
–Creative projects in association with Swiss and international Watchmaking brands

Furthermore, students follow the workshops and lectures of the Product/Jewellery and accessory design program so as to gain all-round knowledge of the field of personal products design such as jewellery and accessories in the broad sense of the term, including “smart” products. The design and manufacture of such products—from single items to whole ranges—form the core of a course in which acquisition of technical skills and knowledge of materials is combined with mastery of the process of design and project methodology.

The course also includes a conference cycle (“Les Midi Horlogers”) with a number of professional lecturers—designers, creators, brand managers, creative directors, researchers, subcontractors, trademark specialists and specialized journalists—who present their work and provide their own perspective on various issues relating to the field of watchmaking.

The MA program is taught in partnership with watch manufacturers and experts from the watchmaking sector. The students spend part of their training within a Watch brand. During the 2-year program MA students each work closely with a Watch brand to develop their MA project in Watch design. This enables students to be involved first-hand with the professional reality and actors of this highly specific field. The courses at HEAD – Genève given by a team of Swiss and international professionals covers all aspects of watch design: technical construction, advanced 3D rendering, research processes, design, marketing, branding, packaging, photography and strategic challenges, trends and heritage issues relating to the watchmaking industry. Creative projects in association with Swiss and international Watchmaking brands are also included in the program. The final MA project is a collection of advanced prototypes produced with a manufacture or a brand.

Upon completion of the MA, students will have developed a wide and reliable network enabling them to work in the creative sector of watchmaking design in the field or in the fashion and accessory industry.

In order to guarantee the highest quality and in line with the requirements of the field, a committed Scientific Committee consisting of the following independent experts who represent the core fields of the watchmaking industry, validates the strategic options of the programme.

Manuel Emch, CEO (RJ-Romain Jerome Watches)
Bernard Gautier, technical development/dressing (Beroma SA)
Jean-Marc Wiederrecht, watch movement technician (Agenhor SA)
Eric Giroud, designer /
Fabrice Paget, MKGT and Luxury (The Luxury Brand Agency)
Carine Maillard, Grand Prix de l’Horlogerie de Genève
Timm Delfs, journalist and watchmaking expert
Catherine de Vincenti, precious stones expert (CDV Consulting) and specialized journalist