Écal creates 'Low-Tech Factory' for Designers' Saturday

published 2 November 2012

Since its launch in 1987, the biannual Designers' Saturday (opens in new tab) - held in the small Swiss town of Langenthal - has established itself as one of the more diverting small fairs on the design calendar. Design companies, designers and design schools exhibit in various production sites across the town and the emphasis is very much on manufacturing and design in action.

'Low-Tech Factory', this edition's presentation from Écal (opens in new tab), takes the idea and plays with it with a good deal of wit and imagination. Students of the college's Industrial Design and Product course have come up with a variety of ingenious and mostly man-powered manufacturing machines. 'Oncle Sam' creates popcorn kernel by kernel and in spectacular fashion while 'Rocking-Knit', as the name suggests, is a rocking chair that knits hats. Watch the film to see them and more low-tech charmers at work.

Designers' Saturday (opens in new tab) takes place from 3-4 November

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.