Christophe Ascençao

About

Christophe Ascençao is an industrial designer based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

He describes his practice as simple, playful and unpredictable. Following projects were made at ECAL from 2020 to 2025.

Currently, he is working on his diploma project in collaboration with the TextielLab, the TextielMuseum’s professional workshop in Tilburg, Netherlands.

Layback
A gentle pause within the folds of a balloon.

This temporary installation is made from repurposed fabric sourced from old hot-air balloons from Château-d'Œx, the 'hot-air balloon capital' of Switzerland. Using a thoughtful economy of materials, this unique creation offers a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of Art Basel, inviting visitors to step into a calm environment and reflect on their experience of visiting art and design exhibitions.

The modular Layback project was developed in 2024 with Amedeo Oddo during the course of the Bachelor Industrial Design program at ECAL and was installed in Basel, as part of the Swiss Design Awards exhibition.

Photography: Delio Testa / Julien Gremaud

Bzz Bzz
The hive that whispers to the bees.

This expanded cork beehive reinterprets the natural habitat of bees, offering them a refuge faithful to nature while meeting the demands of modern beekeeping. In a world where bees struggle against pesticides and climate change, this expanded cork hive provides a true breath of fresh air. Inspired by tree trunks, it recreates a habitat that respects their way of life. Cork, being waterproof, rot-resistant, lightweight and insulating, protects them from climatic challenges while ensuring their comfort.

Photography: Colas Ravey

Sombra
Ancestral gestures carved in shadow and clay.

Crafted in traditional barro negro, the Sombra tableware collection celebrates an ancestral portuguese ceramic technique that is slowly disappearing. Rooted in cultural heritage, each piece is shaped, polished, and fired using time-honoured methods that give it both beauty and function.

Firing takes place in a reducing atmosphere, a process known as soenga, which gives the ceramics their distinctive deep black tone. Remarkably, this technique also renders the pieces waterproof without the need for glaze.

Photography: Colas Ravey / Paul Berthon

SBBQ
Where swiss trains meet cervelas.

SBBQ transforms a decommissioned SBB train bumper into an unexpected and striking barbecue. By repurposing this robust aluminium component originally designed to absorb impact into a functional outdoor grill, the project explores new narratives for industrial waste.

This project was created as part of the ECAL “junkyard diving” exhibition for Milan Design Week 2023, presented at the House of Switzerland, and reflects a bold and playful approach to circular design.

Photography: Séraphine Sallin-Mason / Delio Testa

Biscuit
A daily tool that breaks away.

Biscuit redefines the everyday bathroom mirror by integrating a detachable hand mirror into its surface. Held in place by a discreet magnetic system, the circular section can be effortlessly removed for close-up use, ideal for tasks such as makeup application, shaving, or skincare routines.

Photography: Matilde Croxatto/ Delio Testa

Snowman
A wooden tribute to playful thinking

This wooden toy is inspired by the tactile, intuitive design philosophy of swiss designer Willy Guhl. Created for the retrospective exhibition “thinking with your hands” at Museum für Gestaltung in Zürich, the piece reflects Guhl’s experimental approach where form follows curiosity and play.

Photography: Matilde Croxatto/ Delio Testa

Gravura
From construction tubes to crafted textures.

Gravura is a series of three plaster vases that explore the creative potential of industrial casting through playful, hands-on experimentation. Each vase is molded using construction-site materials: wood panels and repurposed site tubing, cut and textured using a grinder. The result is a trio of vessels with distinct surface reliefs, each shaped by the tools and gestures used to make them. The largest vase features a gradient pattern, the medium one an irregular, spontaneous texture, while the smallest, a soliflore, displays a more controlled pattern.

Photography: Colas Ravey / Paul Berthon

Falò
A campfire that cools.

Falò is a monumental misting installation that reinterprets the symbolic form of a campfire, transforming it into a place of coolness, gathering, and contemplation. Designed with Teo Primo Frizzarin for the cultural event Lausanne Jardins, the piece uses locally sourced tree trunks from Lausanne’s own forests, ensuring an ultra-short production chain and reinforcing its environmental message. As a public installation, it invites interaction and encourages collective awareness through both form and sensation.

Photography: Colas Ravey

Azulejo
Volume, cast simply.

This project explores the sculptural potential of plaster through a series of volumetric tiles cast using a deliberately simple mold: three wood pieces and a frame. Born from experimental research in plaster workshops, the project reinterprets industrial casting techniques as a low-tech, intuitive process.

Photography: Colas Ravey