Alix Arto is a multidisciplinary designer currently based between Marseille (FR) and Vevey (CH), she set up her own studio in the 2021 after working in London for several years. Today, in addition to business collaborations, she develops through residency and material practices, emphasizes sustainability and innovation in her creations, and challenges the limitations of materials and production processes.

During this residency, Alix believe that the process should be the purpose. Sharing experiences, learning new techniques, listening and co-creating have been a few steps of that process. She made a conscious decision not to focus on making a specific object, but to deepen her knowledge and experiment with different craft techniques. 

【WOOL OF SEAT】

The idea behind this project is to explore the application of rolled felted wool in the creation of an armchair. In a lot of seating, classical upholstery is made of foam. She wanted to avoid using this material and showcase wool: its qualities, differences and production process. Like many wool in the world, the local wool the craftman is using has quite a rough feeling. Seen as less valuable by some people, it is a resourceful material. 

They investigated how to mainly use this local material but enhance comfort in specific areas by subtly combining it with other type of wool or details. To nod the sheep's mountain environment, climbing-type rope was included during the rolling process to create interactive points, anticipating future functionalities.  

【IN YOUR HANDS】

The project explores the connection between shape and the interaction of ceramic materials with human hands, resulting in a collection of unique containers. Collaborating with ceramists from Yixing, the focus was on experimenting with Zisha clay and exploring its fantastic qualities (resistance to water, interaction with the taste of the liquid, texture and colour).

In Jingdezhen, she had the chance to spend a few days at WL ceramics. Cylinders were throwed by craftman and she was then able to modify them. She experimented with shapes and glazing with unconventional materials like pottery clay and pomegranate skin. Additionally, she conducted experiments on repurposing ceramic scraps from local landfills.  

【LIGHT ON BAMBOO】

The lamp highlight the very essence of bamboo and its versatility as a material. The ceramic base, created by a skilled artisan, is glazed with ashes from bamboo gathered in Qingshan village. The lampshade is crafted using traditional bamboo weaving techniques. The interaction between the ceramic base, bamboo weaved shade, and light results in a captivating and playful dialogue.