‘telepathic helmet’ photography by sandra pointet and vlado alonso, with alice haldenwang, laura couto rosado and tingting zhang © HEAD – genève

‘inverse everything’ was a presentation of a series of projects conceived by the graduate students of haute école d’art et de design genève (HEAD – genève) which were developed during a workshop led by the UK-based studios of el utlimo grito and auger-loizeau on show during milan design week 2012.

exhibited at the instituto svizzero di roma – sede di milano, ‘inverse everything’ was somewhat a representation of the ‘topsy turvy’ world of science fiction– a laboratory of sorts inviting visitors to discover new experiences that break the classical laws of newtonian physics. the theme of the workshop was proposed by design historian and theorist alexandra midal.

using ‘inversion’ as a fictional device to generate extraordinary contexts, the students of the media design and spaces and communication masters programs formulated a series of alterations relating to the way we live and understand the world around us expressed through tangible objects, spaces and experiences based on this theme.

participating students included: khalil klouche, camille dedieu, jérémie lasnier, mariam asatryan, laura couto rosado, li yu, alice haldenwang (MA media design students); faustine lavorel, cécile fourcade, camille seewer, michaël mouyal, maisa moraes, wendy gaze, tingting zang (MA spaces and communication students).

HEAD genève inverse everything at milan design week 2012 - 2 ‘telepathic apparatuses’ photo by sandra pointet © HEAD – genève

‘telepathic apparatuses’ define the invisibility of telepathic communication. they refer telepathic protocols that have existed since the spiritualist societies of the nineteenth century.

HEAD genève inverse everything at milan design week 2012 - 3 ‘telepathic apparatuses’ image © designboom

HEAD genève inverse everything at milan design week 2012 - 4 ‘telepathic apparatuses’ image © designboom

HEAD genève inverse everything at milan design week 2012 - 5 exhibition view photo by sandra pointet © HEAD – genève

HEAD genève inverse everything at milan design week 2012 - 6 ‘inversion glasses’ phto by raphaëlle mueller © HEAD – genève

the ‘inversion glasses’ is tool used to navigate the inverted experience, re-orientating our point of view and spatial references. an orange ‘path’ hung from the ceiling of the space, inviting visitors to wear the glasses and walk along its course from an alternative, inversed perspective, whereby a mirror, seen as part of the ‘glasses’ reflecting it into the wearer’s site of vision, allowing them to experience a completely new game of trust and perception.

HEAD genève inverse everything at milan design week 2012 - 7 ‘inversion glasses’ image © designboom

HEAD genève inverse everything at milan design week 2012 - 8 ‘multi-gravity rig’ image © designboom

the ‘multi-gravity rig’ consists of a rotating camera which allows us to observe the effects that multiple gravities have on a person’s face. a sequence of photographs are captured in six different gravitational positions and programmed to morph int a multi-gravitational portrait. 

HEAD genève inverse everything at milan design week 2012 - 9 the ‘multi-gravity’ rig is outfitted with a camera which captures a sequence of photographs taken in different gravitational positions image © designboom

HEAD genève inverse everything at milan design week 2012 - 10 the rig is rotated by hand images © designboom

HEAD genève inverse everything at milan design week 2012 - 11 exhibition view of ‘inverse everything’ photo by raphaëlle mueller © HEAD – genève

HEAD genève inverse everything at milan design week 2012 - 12 ‘cinematic essays’ image © designboom

the film ‘cinematic essays’ explores dynamic multi-gravitational movement suggesting new opportunities for architecture and ways of moving around it. it is experienced in a purposefully designed cinema where the screens are configured in an XYZ axis