SILMO Paris Unveils the 10 Talents Reimagining the Future of Vision in the 2026 Optical Design Contest
Monday, August 3 2026 | 14 h 09 min | News
SILMO Paris continues to champion emerging designers, making the support of new talent one of its core commitments. More than an international gathering for the optical industry, the exhibition fosters creativity, encourages experimentation and highlights the designers shaping tomorrow’s optical landscape.
The Optical Design Contest offers design students from around the world a unique opportunity to rethink eyewear through the lens of innovation, design and evolving user needs. It has become a true international launchpad for the next generation of creators.
A Forward‑Looking Theme and a Prestigious Jury President
The 2026 edition explores the theme “The Future of Optics: What Vision?” The jury is chaired by Olivier Lapidus, an internationally renowned designer whose career spans fashion, design and technological innovation. His multidisciplinary perspective brings a distinctive viewpoint to the competing projects.
Ten Projects Selected for Their Bold Vision and Creativity
Ten projects have been shortlisted from international submissions. Reflecting the diversity of global design cultures and the creativity of a new generation, these concepts offer bold interpretations that help shape the conversation around the future of optics.
The nominees:
- ALOGAKI – Universidad de Valladolid (Spain) A premium system for deaf and visually impaired users, inspired by the praying mantis. A stabilising wing allows the frame to transform into a standalone hearing implant powered by a micro‑battery.
- ARCH TERRAIN – Savannah College of Art and Design (USA) Adaptive sports eyewear for climbing, hiking and cycling, featuring real‑time adjustments via a BOA‑inspired dial, elastic hinge and precision rail.
- DREAMSCAPE – Savannah College of Art and Design (USA) An experimental collection recreating dream‑like sensory experiences to address the modern attention‑span crisis.
- EMOSLOW – CY Cergy Paris Université (France) Smart eyewear for children aged 8–12 with concentration, anxiety or emotional regulation challenges. Heart‑rate monitoring triggers electrochromic lenses that change colour as stress rises, supported by a companion app.
- GROUND – Rubika ISD (France) “Transition eyewear” equipped with an EEG sensor that generates animated cymatic patterns within electrochromic lenses to support cognitive transitions and guided meditation.
- HALO – L’École de Design Nantes Atlantique (France) Dual‑lens eyewear for Gen Z in open‑plan workspaces, using SPD technology to electronically darken peripheral vision at the touch of a button for improved focus.
- LEARNING TO SEE – Aalto University (Finland) AI‑powered eyewear combining eye tracking, computer vision and AR to help users “see like an expert” before learning theoretical concepts.
- LUPO – CY Cergy Paris Université (France) Children’s eyewear made from recycled polycarbonate with UV‑reactive pigments that change colour to encourage sun‑protection awareness.
- PROME – L’École de Design Nantes Atlantique (France) Everyday jewellery‑inspired eyewear crafted from recycled stainless steel, featuring interchangeable temples and magnetic accessories.
- SPORA – Universidad de Valladolid (Spain) Eyewear grown from mycelium cultivated on agricultural waste, moulded and stabilised through gentle heat treatment. Fully biodegradable and naturally unique.
See the Finalists at SILMO Paris 2026
The ten nominated projects will be showcased at SILMO Paris from 25 to 28 September 2026, where the winner will be announced. The winning project will receive a €10,000 prize shared between the student and their educational institution.
Click HERE for the press release.
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