After graduating from Haut-Lac in 2016, I pursued my curiosity for design at the École Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne (ECAL) with a preparatory degree in Graphic Design. Known for their fast-pace and professionalism, I learnt the foundation of cinematography, photography, visual arts, product design and graphic design first-hand from industry leaders. It was a big leap to pursue my studies in French; it felt like jumping into a big pool of unknowns but I’m grateful for the support of my friends during that time.
I later joined HES-SO Haute École d’Art et de Design (HEAD, Genève) for my bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture. The program dived into theory and real-life case studies. We had rotating professors from various fields, including social housing, public spaces, experimental homes and exhibition design, which was extremely helpful in testing our “muscles” before entering the “real world”. What I loved most about HEAD was that we learnt by doing. In the first year we drew by hand, and all models were cut with our own precision. We also worked with brands such as USM, Aesop and Montblanc during this time, which introduced me to the world of retail. With the support of my professor, we won the Red Dot Design Award in 2020 through our collaboration with USM, and I later graduated with first-class honors.
Shortly after, I interned at Montalba Architects, a Los Angeles/Lausanne-based architecture firm. There, I got insight into private residential projects and luxury hotels, and expanded my scope into retail design, primarily supporting projects for Vacheron Constantin and Hublot.
I then plotted my fourth move in Switzerland: Zurich, where I joined La Prairie Switzerland as their in-house Global Store Designer. Here, I oversee expansions and renovations across the EMEA&Americas regions for various store typologies and treatment rooms. I share a great passion for skincare, so I really enjoy this role and the insights it has given me into this industry. It’s also a fun challenge to design for different retailers, codes, and regional needs whilst ensuring our brand identity is consistent worldwide. It’s a big (but fun) juggle. Every day, I work alongside a team of talented and multicultural peers (Bulgarian, Cuban, Brazilian, Portuguese, Italian, you name it). It is truly one of the reasons my 4+ years here have flown by so fast.
Looking back at my years at Haut-Lac (2001–2004 & 2013–2016), I’m grateful that the school taught us to embrace diverse cultures from a young age and to take part in real life experiences as early as possible (work experience week, summer internships, field trips). The earlier you try, the faster you discover who you are! Beyond academics, Haut-Lac also encouraged us to play different sports, which showed me the joy of teamwork and taught me to always make room for sports in my day to day. Lastly, the close connection between students that Haut-Lac fosters is truly special and remains the absolute highlight of my time there!
