Ecole Cantonal d'Art de Lausanne

What Ecole Cantonal d'Art de Lausanne does

Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL) is a Swiss public cantonal art school operating under the canton of Vaud and part of the HES-SO (Haute école spécialisée de Suisse occidentale) network of applied sciences universities. Headquartered at 5, avenue du Temple, CH-1020 Renens near Lausanne, ECAL delivers art and design education from foundation (Propédeutique) through Bachelor, Master, MAS, and CAS levels, spanning Fine Arts, Cinema, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Media & Interaction Design, Photography, Type Design, and Digital Experience Design. The institution operates specialized technology infrastructure including the 100m² ECALTECH Center covering deep learning, AR/VR/MR, robotics, motion tracking, photogrammetry, and mapping software, plus the EPFL+ECAL collaborative research lab with EPFL.

ECAL's business model rests on cantonal public funding combined with tuition fees across its program tiers, supplemented by ancillary revenue from ECAL Shop e-commerce, ECAL Typefaces licensing, and the ECAL Campus mobile application. Admissions are processed through an online portal with portfolio-based selection. The school pursues a portfolio of industry collaborations with luxury and technology brands — including Hermès, Vacheron Constantin, Moncler, Google, Mazda, FREITAG, and Swiss Post — through which students deliver real-world projects (e.g., Hermès Zurich window displays, Swiss Post Metascape AI stamps, Google × ECAL Milan Design Week 2026). Academic partnerships with MIT Architecture, IMD Business School, La Becque, senior-lab, and SMART MOVE extend the institutional ecosystem for student exchange, applied research, and faculty collaboration.

ECAL's outputs are validated by a consistent record of student and graduate recognition: 8 graduates won Swiss Design Awards 2026 with 16 additional finalists, distinctions at Design Parade 2026, the Kiefer Hablitzel Göhner Art Prize, Nuits en Or 2026 selection, and the James Dyson Award 2022 for Switzerland. Communications run through a multilingual digital presence spanning a website, multiple department-specific Instagram accounts, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, Vimeo, YouTube, newsletter, and a dedicated press area, supporting both recruitment and international brand visibility.

Name

Ecole Cantonal d'Art de Lausanne

Legal name

Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne

Website

https://ecal.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1821

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ECAL is a public Swiss cantonal art and design university in Renens (Vaud), offering Propédeutique, Bachelor, Master, MAS, and CAS programs across visual arts, design, cinema, and photography, supported by the ECALTECH Center and partnerships with EPFL, MIT, IMD, and luxury and tech brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art and Design Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (61161), Fine Arts Schools (611610)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Design Colleges (Graphic, Industrial, UX/UI, Interior) (EDAHAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Animation, Game Art & Digital Arts Colleges (EDAHAJAI), Architecture Schools (within Arts & Design institutions) (EDAHAJAG), Technical Universities with Architecture, Built Environment & Design Engineering (EDAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Art school education
• Design university programs
• Visual arts training
• Applied design research
• Creative industry education

Headquarters

HQ city

Renens

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne (ECAL) is a Swiss public cantonal art and design university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs in visual arts, cinema, graphic design, industrial design, media & interaction design, photography, type design, and digital experience design. The institution operates specialized technology facilities (ECALTECH Center, EPFL+ECAL Lab) supporting applied research in AI, AR/VR, and robotics, and runs student-facing digital products including the ECAL Campus App, ECAL Shop, and ECAL Typefaces platform.

Product overview

ECAL (Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne) is a Swiss art and design university offering a comprehensive range of undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs across visual arts, cinema, graphic design, industrial design, media & interaction design, and photography. The institution operates specialized facilities including the EPFL+ECAL Lab for collaborative technology research and the ECALTECH Center equipped for AI, AR/VR/MR, robotics, and digital fabrication. Student-facing digital products include the ECAL Campus App and an e-commerce platform (ECAL Shop). The school also maintains active industry collaborations through projects with companies such as Google, Mazda, Hermès, and Moncler, offering students experiential learning opportunities in professional settings. ECAL hosts annual events including the ECAL Talent Day career fair and participates in international exhibitions and design weeks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ECAL Shop: Official merchandise and products shop
• ECAL Typefaces
• EPFL+ECAL Lab
• EXECAL
• ECAL Campus App
• ELAC Gallery

Products and services

• Propédeutique Foundation Year One-year preparatory program providing foundation-level art and design education for students preparing to enter ECAL Bachelor programs.
• Bachelor Programs Undergraduate degree programs covering visual arts, cinema, graphic design, industrial design, media & interaction design, and photography for prospective bachelor-level students.
• Master Programs Graduate degree programs including Visual Arts, Film Studies ECAL–HEAD, Digital Experience Design, Product Design, Photography, Type Design, and HES-So Innokick for advanced specialization.
• Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) Executive-style advanced graduate programs in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship and Design Research for Digital Innovation, aimed at working professionals seeking specialized credentials.
• Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) Continuing-education certificates including Creative Leadership and Short courses for professionals seeking focused skill development.
• ECALTECH Center Specialized 100m2 in-house technology facility providing students and researchers access to AI, AR/VR/MR, medical sensors, motion tracking, photogrammetry, robotics, mapping software, and digital fabrication resources.
• EPFL+ECAL Lab Collaborative research laboratory combining EPFL and ECAL expertise on interdisciplinary projects involving students and researchers from both institutions.
• ECAL Campus App Student-facing mobile application providing campus information and services for ECAL students.
• ECAL Shop Official online store selling ECAL merchandise, design publications, and student/alumni design products to the public.
• ECAL Typefaces Online platform showcasing and selling typefaces designed by ECAL students and alumni.
• ECAL Talent Day Annual networking event connecting recent ECAL graduates with design professionals, recruiters, and partner companies to bridge academia and the professional world.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 graduates won Swiss Design Awards 2026, demonstrating industry recognition of ECAL's educational quality
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• GoogleflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Collaboration with Google Industrial Design (ID) team where Master Product Design students developed conceptual products inspired by daily mobile phone rituals. ECAL × Google 'A Message From Tomorrow' project explores the human dimension of mobile technology.
• MazdaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026MAZDA × ECAL 2026 collaboration involving automotive design exploration with ECAL students.
• MonclerflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Paris Photo 2025 collaboration with Moncler for photography projects involving ECAL students.
• FREITAGflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Milan Design Week 2024 collaboration with Swiss design company FREITAG for sustainable design projects.
• HermèsflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Window display project in Zurich for Hermès, designed by MAS Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship students. Inspired by Surrealist movement exploring the theme of 'Astonishment'.
• EPFL+ECAL LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research laboratory between EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne) and ECAL, focusing on innovative projects combining art, design, and technology. The lab develops interdisciplinary projects involving students and researchers from both institutions.
• IMD Business SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with leading Swiss business school for potential cross-disciplinary collaborations between business and design education.
• La BecquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist residency program allowing ECAL students and alumni to develop creative projects in a residence setting. Mitch Paone notably completed a residency at La Becque in 2019.
• MIT ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partnership with MIT Department of Architecture for exchange and collaboration opportunities.
• senior-labminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch initiative focusing on design and aging, exploring how design can address challenges faced by seniors.
• SMART MOVEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMobility and innovation initiative, likely focused on transportation or sustainable mobility design projects.
• Vacheron ConstantinflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerWatch manufacturer supporting the Master of Advanced Studies in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship. Collaboration included 'The Minute Repeater' installation at SIHH 2014.
• Swiss Post (La Poste)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration where students created AI-generated postage stamps with augmented reality features (Metascape) for Swiss Post.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Design Academy Eindhoven: Dutch design university offering bachelor and master programs in industrial design, graphic design, and contextual design. Comparable focus on design research and industry-linked projects.
• Rhode Island School of Design (RISD): Prestigious US art and design college covering industrial design, graphic design, photography, and film. Comparable undergraduate-focused structure and award-winning graduate outcomes.
• HEAD – Genève (Haute école d'art et de design – Genève): Swiss public university of art and design in Geneva under HES-SO, the same network as ECAL. Offers comparable bachelor/master programs in visual arts, cinema, design, and media, making it the closest domestic peer.
• Parsons School of Design (The New School): US-based design school with industrial, graphic, and interaction design programs plus strong luxury/fashion industry partnerships. Direct global competitor for international design applicants.
• Politecnico di Milano – School of Design: Italian public university with one of Europe's largest design schools, offering industrial, interior, communication, and digital design programs. Comparable public-institution scale and industry-linked applied research.
• Royal College of Art (RCA): London-based postgraduate-only university of art and design with comparable architecture, design, and luxury-craftsmanship offerings and similarly strong industry partnerships. Direct global competitor for top design talent.
• Aalto University – School of Arts, Design and Architecture: Nordic university combining art, design, and architecture with strong tech-adjacent research, similar to ECAL's EPFL+ECAL Lab positioning. Comparable in scale and public-university model.
• ZHdK – Zürcher Hochschule der Künste: Switzerland's largest arts university, also under a public arts-university framework. Comparable structure across design, film, fine arts, and music with strong industry linkages in Zurich's luxury and creative economy.

Regional players

• HEAD – Paris (Haute école des arts du Rhin / Paris school): French public art school in Strasbourg offering comparable art and design programs. Operates in the broader European Francophone market with overlapping student-recruitment territory.

Others

• EPFL – École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne: ECAL's primary research partner through the EPFL+ECAL Lab. Not a direct competitor but the closest institutional peer and strategic ally for technology-driven design education in the Lausanne campus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ecal_ch
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGv6ry5FvXCgyKSIfBHPADg
• Facebookfacebook.com/229424697161925
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ecal---ecole-cantonale-d-art-de-lausanne
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecal_ch
• TikToktiktok.com/@ecal_ch

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ecole Cantonal d'Art de Lausanne