Emile De Visscher, PhD
Emile De Visscher is a Designer, Engineer and Materials Scientist. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Université de Technologie de Compiègne (FR, 2009), and Design at the Royal College of Art (UK, 2012).
He then obtained a PhD in the SACRe doctoral program at Paris Science et Lettres and École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, in 2018. Entitled »Technophanic Manufactures«, his practice-based PhD explored the conditions for innovative manufacturing processes to become public and shared.
Emiles work focuses on the invention of small-scale production tools. His projects include a new recycling machine for thermoplastics (»Polyfloss«, together with C. Machet, A. Gaulard and N. Paget) or a process to transform paper and cardboard into stone (»Petrification«). In 2015, he also initiated and since then directs an independent design publication called Obliquite.
Cluster of Excellence
»Matters of Activity«
Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin
Sophienstr. 22a
10178 Berlin
De Visscher, E. 2018. Manufactures Technophaniques. PhD thesis, SACRe doctoral program, PSL University, prepared at EnsadLab, ENSAD. Paris: Université Paris Sciences et Lettres.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-02269867
De Visscher, E. ed. 2018. Obliquite #2 - Process. With Glithero, Guberan, C., et al. Paris: Les Presses Pondérées.
www.obliquite.com
De Visscher, E. ed. 2015. Obliquite #1 - Paradigm. With Seng, J., et al. (contributors). Paris: Les Presses Pondérées.
www.obliquite.com
Monographs & Books
De Visscher, E. 2018. Manufactures Technophaniques. PhD thesis, SACRe doctoral program, PSL University, prepared at EnsadLab, ENSAD. Paris: Université Paris Sciences et Lettres.
https://tel.archives-ouvertes.fr/tel-02269867
Edited Volumes & Exhibition Catalogues
De Visscher, E. ed. 2018. Obliquite #2 - Process. With Glithero, Guberan, C., et al. Paris: Les Presses Pondérées.
www.obliquite.com
De Visscher, E. ed. 2015. Obliquite #1 - Paradigm. With Seng, J., et al. (contributors). Paris: Les Presses Pondérées.
www.obliquite.com
Articles in Edited Volumes
De Visscher, E. 2023. »Biocompatible Radiation: Designing for the Living.« In Material Trajectories. Designing With Care?, edited by Perraudin, L., Winkler, C., Mareis, C., Held, M. Lüneburg: meson press, 123-134.
De Visscher, E. 2023. »›Matière‹ and ›Matériau‹ - Thoughts on Two Ways to Consider Materials and their Design.« In Let’s Get Sustainable. Art, Design and Architecture, edited by Frye, A., Kruse, C., Majewski, A., Schramke, S. Wien: Verlag für Moderne Kunst, 229-239.
De Visscher, E. 2022. »From the Invention of Manufacturing Processes to the Discovery of Matter.« In Design, Gestaltung, Formatività. Philosophies of Making, edited by Ribault, P. Basel: Birkhäuser, 197-208.
De Visscher, E. 2021. »Approcher les modes de fabrication par le design.« In MàJ, Design, environnements techniques & pratiques exploratoires, edited by Bertrand, G., Favard, M., Lartigaud, D.O. Saint-Etienne: Cité du Design, 1-8.
De Visscher, E. 2021. »Trojan Horses: ambiguity as a critical design strategy.« In Critical by Design. Genealogies, Practices, Positions, edited by Mareis, C., Greiner-Petter, M., Renner, M. Bielefeld: transcript, 163-181.
Conference Proceedings
De Visscher, E., Guiducci, L., Rešetar, I. 2021. »The Materiality of Resilience.« In Design Culture(s). Cumulus Conference Proceedings Roma 2021, Volume #2. Presented at the Design Culture(s) Conference, Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of Architecture and School of Industrial Design, Rome, 9 June 2021. 3755-3773.
https://cumulusroma2020.org/
Research Objects
Rešetar, I. (coordinator, designer), De Visscher, E. (designer), Material Form Function project, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, NODE Berlin Oslo. 2020. »Diagram ›Material Form Function‹.« Presented at the Material Form Function project presentation at the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity« Retreat 2020.
Exhibitions
Beyer, B., De Visscher, E., Hathroubi, S., Hengge, R., Liedtke, M., Mareis C., Miodragovic, N., Rešetar, I., Suárez, D. Bacterial Cellulose: Co-Weaving Biofilms. Exhibition. Installation for the Triennale XXIII: »Unknown Unknows, An Introduction to Mysteries«. Milan. 15 July 2022 - 11 December 2022.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/de/activities/8617/bacterial-cellulose-co-weaving-biofilms
Büsse, M. (curator), de Visscher, E. (curator), Dean, M., Dierichs, D., Eder, M., Eigen, L., Guiducci, L., Hehemeyer-Cürten, J., Jalkh, H., Kycia, A., Mareis, C., Nyakatura, J. A., Rasehorn, F., Rešetar, I., Ribault, P., Sauer, C., Sauer, I., Schneider, M., Stock, R., Shone, J., Wenig, C. Design Lab #13. Material Legacies. Exhibition. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Museum of Decorative Arts. Kunstgewerbemuseum. 3 November 2022 - 26 February 2023.
https://www.smb.museum/en/museums-institutions/kunstgewerbemuseum/exhibitions/detail/design-lab-13/
Highlighted by TAZ, 15.11.2022.
Contributions to Exhibitions
De Bie, M., De Visscher, E. »Énergies Communes.« At the exhibition: Designer(s) du Design, Lille Metropole World Design Capital 2020. Tri Postal, Lille. 7 September 2020 - 1 December 2020.
https://www.designiscapital.com/programme/designers-du-design
De Visscher, E. »Petrification.« At the exhibition: De la Pensée au Visible. Design as a Large Ring. French Section of the XXII TRIENNALE DI MILANO: Broken Nature. Geel, C. (curator); Carrel, L. (coordination); Lejault, M. (executive producer); Adenis, M.S.; Bihanic, D. et al. (contributors). Triennale Museum, Milan. 28 February 2019 - 1 September 2019.
https://triennale.org/en/events/de-la-pensee-au-visible.-design-as-a-large-ring/
Startups & Spin Offs
Machet, C., de Visscher, E., Gaulard, A., Paget, N. 2022. Founded Polyfloss Factory. 1 March 2022, France.
https://www.thepolyflossfactory.com/
Kassung, C., De Visscher, E. »Animal/Culture«. Panel Presentation at the Lecture Series »im/Perfection. Im/perfect Figurations in Nature, Culture and Technology«. Organized by Löffler, P., Ribault, P., Müller, M., Department of Cultural History and Theory, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 16 May 2019.
Talks & Presentations
De Visscher, E. Material Becomings, Designing with and for Activity. Panel Presentation at the »Let’s Get Sustainable: Art, Design, and Architecture« Symposium, Forum für Interdisziplinäre Studien, Muthesius Kunsthochschule, Kiel. Organized by Frye, A., Kruse, C., Majewski, A., Schramke, S. Virtual. 28 January 2022.
https://muthesius-kunsthochschule.de/2022/01/13/lets-get-sustainable-art-design-and-architecture/
Bodart, C. , Le Coguiec, E. , Pihet, V. (organisers), De Visscher, E., et al. (contributors) Penser la recherche dans le champ politique de l'enseignement supérieur. Panel Presentation at the ACFAS 88e Research Congress, 311 - Art, architecture, design. Sherbrooke and Bishop's Universities, Quebec. Virtual. 4 May 2021.
https://www.acfas.ca/evenements/congres/programme/88/300/311/c
De Visscher, E., Guiducci, L., Rešetar, I. The Materiality of Resilience. Talk at the Conference »Design Culture(s) Roma« 2021, Design Culture of Resilience: Social Innovation | Circular Economy| Sustainability. Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of Architecture and School of Industrial Design. Virtual. 9 June 2021.
https://cumulusroma2020.org/
De Visscher, E. Fibres - Ndao Hanavao, Recycling plastics in Madagascar. Panel Presentation at the Symposium »Times of Waste – Handling Matter«, Design Strategies and Practices for Sustainable Use of Materials and Resources. Organized by FHNW Academy of Art and Design Basel in cooperation with the Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and the Museum of Decorative Arts Berlin. Virtual. 18 June 2021.
http://times-of-waste.ch/de/symposium/
De Visscher, E. Le design de processus, ou proposer des futurs techniques autres. Talk at the Conference »Post Design, Alterproduction«, TALM, Angers. Organized by Enon, D. together with Rigot, E., Geel, C., Oroza, E., Testevin, P., Thwaites, T., Coccia, E. Hybrid. 11 March 2021.
https://www.davidenon.net/Post-design_Alterproduction.pdf
De Visscher, E. Opérations techniques et critiques - suivre la matière dans ses transformations. Talk at the Esadmm, Marseille. 26 October 2021.
De Visscher, E. Technodiversity. Talk at the Lecture Series »Domestication«, Ecole Normale Supérieure - Saclay, Paris. Virtual. 8 April 2021.
De Visscher, E. The Persistence of Fragile Assemblages. Panel Presentation at the 2nd Annual Conference »Tipping Points. Plastic, Contingent and Unstable Matters«, Fragile Entanglements. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Hybrid. 17 November 2021.
www.matters-of-activity.de/de/activities/6581/tipping-points-plastic-contingent-and-unstable-matters
De Visscher, E. We are Fluids. A Quest to Design Life Forms with Electrons. Panel Presentation at the »Material Trajectories. Designing with Care«, 17th Annual Conference of the German Society for Design Theory and Research (DGTF), Living Matter, Re-Attaching, Speculative Design. Project panel with Müller, M.; Tikka, E.; Arhensfeld, V.. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, weißensee school of art and design berlin. Virtual. 8 May 2021.
https://materialtrajectories.dgtf.de/
Fétro, S., De Visscher, E., Maudet, N. (panelists), Chomarat-Ruiz, C. (organizer) Quelle éthique pour les outils, machines et manufactures? Panel Presentation at the Lecture Series »Design, Arts, Médias«, Université de Paris 1 - Panthéon Sorbonne, Paris. Virtual. 3 February 2021.
Peilloux, A., De Visscher, E., Voillot, M. (moderation). De la scientificité du design: l’expérience du faire dans le processus de recherche. Panel Presentation at the »Design en Recherche: Pratiques de la Recherche en Design«, Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire, Paris. Hybrid. 21 January 2021.
https://designenrecherche.org/actions/de-la-scientificite-du-design-l-experience-du-faire-dans-le-processus-de-recherche/
Winkler, C., De Visscher, E. New Materialisms and their Designs. Talk at the Research Colloquium »Design and the History of Knowledge« organized by Mareis,C. and Büsse, M., Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«. Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 12 May 2021.
Brunet, C., Geel, C., Viati-Navone, A. (organisers), De Visscher, E., Auger, J., Bosqué, C. et al. (contributors) Setting up recycling initiatives in post-colonial contexts. Talk at the Colloquium Post-colonial studies, history of design, and contemporary practices, the »African« case, Contemporary practices of (European) design in Africa: between globalization, fab-lab. and craftsmanship. Ecole Normale Supérieure - Paris Saclay, Paris. Hybrid. 27 January 2020.
De Visscher, E. Designing with Dissymmetry. Talk at the Brown Bag Brunch, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 9 June 2020.
De Visscher, E. Making the Making Public. Talk at the Critical Media Lab Colloquium, Institute of Experimental Design and Media Culture, FHNW, Basel. Virtual. 22 April 2020.
De Visscher, E. Product design and processes. Talk at the Willem de Kooning Academie, Rotterdam. 26 November 2020.
De Visscher, E. Soutenance de thèse en musée national. Expérience d'un format hybridant productions plastiques, gestes techniques et débat théorique. Panel Presentation at the Séminaire SACRe 2020-2021 #2 - Formats des soutenances de thèse practice based, organized by Mahé, E., École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. 23 October 2020.
De Visscher, E. Technology is political. Talk at the Bio-ID seminar, Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London. Virtual. 11 December 2020.
De Visscher, E., Fratzl, P., Guiducci, L., Mareis, C., Rešetar, I. Project presentation »Material Form Function«. Talk at the 3rd Cluster Day, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity. Image Space Material«. 25 September 2019.
De Visscher, E. De l'ersatz à l'alternative, une problème de design contemporain. Talk at the Symposium »L'Age de l'Ersatz«, Haute École d'Art du Rhin (HEAR), Mulhouse. 29 October 2019.
De Visscher, E. Ecologies of Technology. Talk at the Lecture Series »Think, Feel and Act from the Ecological Standpoint«, Paris College of Art, Paris. 18 November 2019.
De Visscher, E. Polyfloss à Madagascar - Du laboratoire au contexte humanitaire en passant par l'exposition, trajets d'un projet de recyclage innovant. Talk at the École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. 19 November 2019.
De Visscher, E. Productions and ecologies. Talk at the Strate College, Paris. 18 November 2019.
Kassung, C., De Visscher, E. »Animal/Culture«. Panel Presentation at the Lecture Series »im/Perfection. Im/perfect Figurations in Nature, Culture and Technology«. Organized by Löffler, P., Ribault, P., Müller, M., Department of Cultural History and Theory, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 16 May 2019.
Mosse, A. (organizer), Mahé, E., De Visscher, E. et al. (contributors) Sciences-Design junctions & frictions. Panel Presentation at the Soft Matter(s) Symposium, École nationale supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. 20 December 2019.
Napolitani, M., De Visscher, E. (moderation) Wunderkammers and their contemporary use. Talk at the Brown Bag Brunch, Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 12 November 2019.
Invited Moderation/ Comment
De Visscher, E. Lo—TEK. Design by Radical Indigenism. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 4 May 2021.
Events & Workshops
Douny, L., Krauthausen, K., Sattler, F. (organizers and moderators), Miodragovic, N., Samuel N., De Visscher, E., Winkler, C. (guests) Translating Material Practices. Tieranatomisches Theater Berlin. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 28 March 2023.
Mareis, C., de Visscher, E. Material Negotiations: Practices of Biodesign. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 8 October 2021.
https://www.matters-of-activity.de/en/activities/6395/material-negotiations-practices-of-biodesign
De Visscher, E., Dean, M., Beyer, B., Cruz, M. Matters of Activity Lecture Series UCL London. UCL London. Virtual. 11 December 2020 - 12 January 2021.
De Visscher, E., Miadrogović, N., Wenig, C., Winkler, C. Symposium »Times of Waste – Handling Matter«. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, FHNW Academy of Art and Design Basel, Museum of Decorative Arts. 18 March 2020 - 19 March 2020.
http://times-of-waste.ch/de/symposium/
Ribault, P., De Visscher, E., Kuitenbrouwer, K. Zoonomic Cooperations (Zoöp): Imagining a Space of Interspecific Observation and Intervention. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. Virtual. 13 November 2020.
De Visscher, E., Akoun, S. Nouvelles manufactures, Polyfloss et le recyclage de déchets à échelle locale. Kedge Design School, Marseille, France. Organized by Paixao-Barradas, S. 28 November 2019 - 29 November 2019.
Mareis, C. , Rešetar, I. , De Visscher, E. Capsules, Sheets and Fibers – Designing Soft Interfaces. 1st Retreat of the Cluster »Matters of Activity«, Nauen. Cluster of Excellence »Matters of Activity«, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. 2 November 2019.
Press Articles
Molitor, N. 2022. »Ausstellungsempfehlung für Berlin: Am Knotenpunkt des Materials. Das 13. Design Lab im Kunstgewerbemuseum geht den Geschichten diverser Bau- und Designmaterialien auf den Grund. Befragt werden Werke aus der Sammlung.« taz, 15 November 2022.
https://taz.de/Ausstellungsempfehlung-fuer-Berlin/!5892190/
De Visscher, E. Since 2021. Hcéres evaluator for BA and MA in art and design schools - Normandie Commitee.
De Visscher, E. Since 2021. Jury d'agrégation - section Design et Métiers d'Art.
De Visscher, E. Since 2021. MA dissertation's jury - DSAA DP - École Boulle.
De Visscher, E. Since 2020. Jury commitee - Jean Prouvé Design Prize - French Ministry of Education.
De Visscher, E. Since 2020. MA dissertation's jury - DSAA DP - École Boulle.