Six masters students from the L'École de Design Nantes Atlantique present projects ranging from city design to food innovation in this digital show as part of Virtual Design Festival's student and schools initiative.

The featured student projects were completed on five different masters degree programmes at the school's main campus in Nantes, France, or its studio in Shanghai, China.

L'École de Design Nantes Atlantique

University: L'École de Design Nantes Atlantique
Courses: MDes City Design, MDes Care Design, MDes Transcultural Design (China Studio), MDes Design and Innovation Management and MDes Food Design

MDes City Design course statement:

"The MDes City Design course is dedicated to urban and territorial change. How can we support the transition towards a sustainable living environment in the areas of housing, public space, commercial space and transport?

"It brings together public and private stakeholders, companies, associations, regional authorities and academics and aims to create, develop and test new spaces, services and products combining user needs and environmental and economic requirements on a full scale."

MDes Care Design course statement:

"MDes Care Design conducts research on issues of societal and environmental wellbeing and health. It brings together public and private organisations and businesses, associations and individual players with the goal of creating, developing and carrying out full scale testing of sustainable, innovative and exploratory measures."

MDes Transultural Design (China Studio) course statement:

"Throughout the MDes Transultural Design students will learn to decipher local behaviours and understand the Chinese market to offer a coherent project, adapted to users, with an anthropological approach to design. This program is a stepping stone to an international designer career."

MDes Design and Innovation Management course statement:

"The Design and Innovation Management course is an apprenticeship program that allows students to gain a real professional experience as a designer before they graduate.

"As a paid employee, the apprentice has a recognised position in the company, working alongside their apprenticeship manager who is an experienced designer. Initially apprentices assist in managing projects, but as they gain experience and recognition, they may be asked to take responsibility in project management."

MDes Food Design course statement:

"The Food Design research lab by design is dedicated to the entire eating system. It brings together public and private stakeholders, companies, associations, regional authorities and academics, in the field of food products, as well as presentation devices for all spaces, products and services for food."

Lichen Air Sensors by Aditya Joshi, MDes City Design

"Lichens are among the most ancient living organisms on earth. They grow everywhere and get their nutrients from the atmosphere. Very sensitive to pollution, they are precious indicators of air quality.

"Aditya Joshi designed Lichen Air Sensors to raise public awareness and understanding of urban biodiversity. The project enables passersby to geolocate lichens and to take part in creating an informative urban signposting system.

"In the school context, the project educates children in eco-responsibility. This application puts citizens at the heart of a humane initiative in tune with nature, through the localisation of lichen."

Student: Aditya Joshi
Project: Lichen Air Sensors
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/lichen-air-sensors-aditya-josh-design-l-expo-2019-925
Contact address: adityajoshi1494@gmail.com
Course: MDes City Design
Project tutor: Anais Jacquard

Loop by Louise Roussière, MDes Care Design

"In a highly medicalised context, many pregnant women complain about overly intrusive clinical monitoring.

"They feel like they're not given enough information about the physical and psychological changes associated with giving birth. Pregnancy pains are seldom alleviated, and pelvic floor re-education comes only 3 months after the birth.

"In order to solve this problem, Louise Roussière invented Loop, a comforting scarf/sling which accompanies the future mum from A to Z. It relieves lower back pain during pregnancy, starts the process of abdominal re-education after the delivery and supports the infant after its birth.

"Loop helps the mother carry and welcome her little one with complete peace of mind."

Student: Louise Roussière
Project: Loop
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/loop-louise-roussiere-design-l-expo-2019-909
Contact address: roussierelouise@gmail.com
Course: MDes Care Design
Project tutor: Simon Boussard

Qí Yóu by Marie Briand, MDes Transcultural Design (China Studio)

"The Chinese education system is famous for being extremely competitive and focused on academic performance.

"Chinese children often don't have time to cultivate their curiosity. Marie Briand asked herself how she could support the educational transition initiated by the Chinese government while making time for infants and children to explore.

"Qí Yóu is a progressive family board game which helps children discover the world. It follows the adventures of Docteur Hoù, a monkey who travels through time and space, using a tablet. Each challenge is linked to a chosen theme. The combinations of adventures, subjects and challenges are as varied and vast as the world."

Student: Marie Briand
Project: Qí Yóu
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/qi-you-marie-briand-design-l-expo-2019-933
Contact address: marie.briand2@hotmail.fr
Course: MDes Transcultural Design (China Studio)
Project tutor: Eric Mazodier

Smile in the light by Ophélie Jaret, MDes Design and Innovation Management

"Have you ever felt like whistling, playing or moving while waiting for the metro or bus at night?

"The wait can be long and stressful. On average, public transport users in Nantes wait for 20 minutes at tram stops. Ophélie Jaret thought about this problem. She created Smile in the light: interactive games on platforms which create social interaction at night.

"Arcade games are projected onto the ground using two video projectors and the users play thanks to webcams which detect their silhouettes. By encouraging players at one stop to play with the people opposite, this project stimulates social interaction, team spirit and relaxation. Everyone goes home with a smile on their face."

Student: Ophélie Jaret
Project: Smile in the light
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/smile-in-the-light-ophelie-jaret-design-l-expo-2019-931
Contact address: ophelie.jaret@gmail.com
Course: MDes Design and Innovation Management
Project tutor: Marion Moussu

Entre-Chai by Valentin Mercier, MDes City Design

"How can we improve our knowledge of wine while promoting the know-how of the wine-making industry?

"In cities, private storage spaces are limited, unlike in rural environments. Valentin Mercier came up with the idea of Entre-Chai as a place dedicated to the conservation and management of bottles for wine enthusiasts and collectors.

"Devoted to the world of wine, the space promotes local wine production through regular workshops and wine-tasting events. Besides the commercial aspect, it is dedicated to specialist advice and to sharing experiences. It promotes the discovery of regional identity and showcases the wealth of local know-how."

Student: Valentin Mercier
Project: Entre-Chai
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/entre-chai-valentin-mercier-design-l-expo-2019-923
Contact address: valentin.mercier28@orange.fr
Course: MDes City Design
Project tutor: Anais Jacquard

Poiscaille by Yifan Zuo, MDes Food Design

"According to the FAO, the average French person throws away 30 kilograms of waste per year. In order to add value to bio-food waste, Yifan Zuo had the idea of recycling fish skin and scales for regular consumption.

"In China, it is usual to eat the skin of fish, which is considered nourishing and healthy. Poiscaille is a salt made from fish skin and scales, packed full of calcium and marine protein. Excellent for our health, it helps us moderate our intake of ordinary salt and makes everyday dishes really tasty.

"The packaging, made from fish leather, gives food waste a useful second life. Innovative, eco-friendly and healthy, Poiscaille is the salt of the future."

Student: Yifan Zuo
Project: Poiscaille
Website: en.lecolededesign.com/projets/poiscaille-yifan-zuo-design-l-expo-2019-919
Contact address: jessie_zyf@hotmail.com
Course: MDes Food Design
Project tutor: Aude Chaigneau

Virtual Design Festival's student and schools initiative offers a simple and affordable platform for student and graduate groups to present their work during the coronavirus pandemic. Click here for more details.

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