The Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD) has recently brought together its jury to evaluate the projects developed by students enrolled in its Master’s programme in Watch Design. Before long, these young designers will join the design teams of major watch brands or contribute through the design consultancies that work alongside them. Their understanding of what a watch should be is therefore likely to influence the future direction of the industry. The 2026 cohort stands out for its originality, and three projects in particular caught our attention thanks to their forward-thinking approach.
A creation that allows time to be felt
The first project comes from Iris Grondein. We have followed the young designer throughout the past year. Iris is on the autism spectrum and also lives with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). As a result, her relationship with time differs significantly from that of most people. Time can become a source of anxiety and pressure, capable of overwhelming her almost instantly.
Traditional representations of time — a round watch case and three hands — therefore hold little meaning for her. Because of her heightened sensory sensitivity, Iris needs to “feel” time physically, to interact with it in order to gain greater control over it. Rather than experiencing the negative effects of time, she needs an object on which to focus her attention. Since no such object existed, she decided to create it herself.
The result is not a wristwatch but something closer to a pocket watch. Every aspect has been conceived to soften the perception of passing time. Its dimensions allow it to rest comfortably in the palm of the hand. The materials — resin, ceramic and oak wood — have been selected for their softness and their ability to remain at a comfortable ambient temperature. The colour palette is equally intentional, favouring calm and soothing tones over traditional watchmaking colours such as red and black, which can feel too intense or alarming.
Our view
Entitled À fleur de peau, Iris’s project sheds light on a rarely explored aspect of the watch industry. Its social dimension is both evident and unusual. It encourages greater awareness of neurodiversity, which in turn implies recognising that there are multiple ways of perceiving and interpreting time.
It would be particularly valuable to see an established brand embrace such a concept, helping to increase the visibility of this community and, ultimately, normalise its specific needs.
From a manufacturing standpoint, the project presents no obvious obstacles. It also reflects a renewed interest in the pocket-watch format. Jury member Yvan Arpa (ArtyA) praised “a superb presentation, a magnificent object and a radiant personality.” The jury shared this enthusiasm, awarding the project a score of 5.5 out of 6.
A watchmaking tribute to wine
The second project is the work of Léa Maniscalco. Named La Désirée, it references the popular 37.5 cl wine bottle format. Her watch, appropriately measuring 37.5 mm in diameter, draws inspiration from the world of wine, a field in which Léa’s family plays an important role locally.
The watch features a steel case and three rehaut variations representing white, red and rosé wines. The caseback recalls the shape of a bottle’s base, while each dial interpretation reflects the personality of a different wine style: the rosé appears softer and rounder, the white sharper and drier, and the red more layered and complex through an interplay of diamond and square motifs.
Our view
The concept is appealing and refreshing. Viticulture remains a relatively untapped source of inspiration in watchmaking. The decision to create an accessible watch in a steel case powered by a Sellita-based movement is entirely consistent with the democratic spirit of La Désirée. The project could be brought to market without major difficulties.
One might nevertheless wish for a deeper exploration of the artisanal side of winemaking. References to traditional crafts, wood, tannins or other direct connections to viticulture could have enriched the concept further. Léa’s project received a score of 5 out of 6.
The Mark of a brand
The third project takes the form of a sociological statement. It is the work of Mikael Correia, who is around fifteen years older than most of his classmates and already has several contributions to the watch industry to his name.
His concept revolves around the notion of a “brand”: both the commercial identity consumers purchase and the physical mark left on the skin by a watch (or any luxury object) once it has been removed. Mikael examines the many rituals found around the world in which the body is intentionally altered, often permanently, through forms of physical constraint. The “giraffe women” of Myanmar are one such example.
His project proposes a watch-bracelet whose close fit against the skin can temporarily imprint a message on the wearer’s epidermis. The resulting “mark” is voluntary and temporary, serving as a reminder that brands often view the body as a surface upon which they place, or perhaps impose, their identity.
Our view
The project is provocative and unsettling, yet supported by rigorous anthropological and graphic research. The strength of its concept impressed the jury, which awarded it a score of 5.5 out of 6.
It also opens up a compelling discussion about the physical traces that brands leave on the body. The reflection extends beyond watchmaking into the wider luxury sector, prompting questions about practices that already exist today, such as tattooing luxury brand logos onto the arm or neck.
Mikael’s proposal is thought-provoking and unsettling in the original sense of the term: it sets ideas in motion. It offers fertile ground for sociological and philosophical reflection, even if its commercial applications remain uncertain. Perhaps the concept is too disruptive and not sufficiently scalable to generate significant sales volumes. A niche product, perhaps?
