Christophe AscençaoAbout

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

He describes his practice as simple, playful and unpredictable. 

He recently graduated from ECAL, where he developed a range of projects exploring new forms of comfort and functionality. His diploma project developed in collaboration with the TextielLab, the professional workshop of the TextielMuseum in Tilburg, Netherlands, reflects his ongoing interest in textile innovation.
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