

HOUSE OF ELITE
Presentation
Elite is part of the craft tradition of Master Upholsterer Jules-Henri Caillet and was created in Yens-sur-Morges in Switzerland in 1895. Initially, the Caillet family specialised in upholstery and then went on to gain expertise in mattress manufacturing and build a reputation in the region. With the advent of automated tools, Robert Caillet, the founder's son, sought to integrate progress within his company by marrying craft and mechanisation. In his view, and indeed that of successive generations, progress was key to the manufacture of a good mattress.
Artisan production offers freedom of choice and the opportunity to use high-quality natural materials (Swiss wool, alpaca wall, cashmere, pure tail hair, camel wool, Tussar silk, etc.). Expertise in combining these different materials and rigorous design combine to produce exceptional bedding. “Fine materials for a good night’s sleep”. From the outset, the family business was careful to select only environmentally friendly, sustainable raw materials. Production, which still takes place in Switzerland, relies on a relationship of trust with partners, expertise and attention to details by the company’s employees. This leads to ethical, ecological and social responsibility both on the part of partners and customers as on that of its employees.

The birth of a mattress

The Boxspring, an ancestral know-how

The headboard, the bed's essence
Elite house seeks to forge its own distinctive path and prioritise craftsmanship and well-being. It is alert to customer experience and offers bespoke solutions. It strives its utmost to ensure that its products are both sustainable and environmentally friendly.
From consultation to manufacture, Elite’s employees are constantly on hand to meet their customers’ every demand. A job well done, the pursuit of excellence – these are the values that Elite seeks to convey in designing its products. The company is defined not only by its quality guarantees and commitment to innovation internally, but also by its fine, delicate materials and the talents of its craft workers.
Elite is part of a long tradition of bed making and seeks to advance the design of premium beds. This competition looks to foster new ideas through the combination of design and traditional craftsmanship.
Discover EliteGOALS
« Modern Heritage » - Theme
The theme for this seventh edition of the contest is « Modern Heritage ». Designers are invited to offer their take on our best-selling Chloé bed, an embodiment of timeless excellence. We’re looking for innovative concepts that further enhance the bed’s styling without losing any of its supremely comfortable feel and enduring appeal. Special care must be taken with the detailing and the choice of materials.
Chloé
With its quilted headboard, the Chloé bed highlights Elite’s expertise in upholstery. The carefully stitched headboard delivers a remarkable sensation of comfort. The interplay of light and shadow on the stitching produces a subtle relief effect, adding a touch of sophistication and vibrancy to the bed’s styling. Contestants are invited to come up with an outstanding design that reflects our firm’s excellence and appeals to our most discerning customers.
Prizes
Goals of the competition
- Show Elite’s expertise
- Boost creative design in the field of bedding
- Transform ideas into product
- Give students and young professionals the opportunity to be exhibited at the Milan Design Week 2024
CONDITIONS
Who
The Elite Design Award is open to anyone belonging to one of the following categories
- Graduates from schools of design, architecture, interior design or engineering
- Practitioners without qualifications who can provide evidence of having worked in the areas of design, architecture or interior design
- Students of schools of design, architecture, interior design or engineering
- Any person wishing to innovate in bedding
- Individually or in teams (2 people max.)
What
The following criteria will be used to assess the proposals
- Consistency with the positioning of the company (craftsmanship, luxury, well-being)
- Quality of the presentation and narration (clarity)
- Aesthetic quality of the project
- Functional quality of the project (user experience)
- Technical and functional feasibility
- Creativity and originality in response to the competition theme and specifications
Technical characteristics and constraints
- Graduates from schools of design, architecture, interior design or engineering
- Practitioners without qualifications who can provide evidence of having worked in the areas of design, architecture or interior design
- Students of schools of design, architecture, interior design or engineering
- Any person wishing to innovate in bedding
- Individually or in teams (2 people max.)
Disqualification occurs in the following cases
- If the evaluation criteria, technical characteristics and constraints are not met
- If more than one project is sent by team or individually
- If the project contains more than 3 pages or less than 3 pages
- If the team contains more than 2 people
- If multiple registrations
CALENDAR
Registration Phase
September 1, 2023
Start of competitionNovember 1, 2023
Registration deadline
Submission Phase
December 11, 2023
Project submission deadline - (Midnight Geneva time UTC+2)
Selection Phase
January 2024
Selection of the projects by the juryFebruary 2024
Announcement of the 3 winners*16 - 21 April 2024
Presentation of the projects and awards ceremony at the Elite Gallery Milan during the Milan Design Week 2024
Jury
Once the projects have been submitted, the jury will meet in January to select the prizes winners. Be creative !
Daphna Glaubert
Architect and Design Management Specialist
Trained as an architect, Daphna Glaubert worked for 8 years in international architecture and design offices before specializing in design management and innovation. She currently collaborates with the HEIG-VD business school and the ECAL design school to promote the practice and culture of design within companies.

Bertille Laguet
Product Designer
Bertille Laguet is a designer graduated from ECAL, and she is also a blacksmith. You can find her at 'La Forge' in Chexbres a village in the vineyard along the lake Geneva in Switzerland.

Laure Gremion
Industrial Designer
After her studies at ECAL and Design Academy Eindhoven, Laure Gremion gained professional experience by working in various companies before launching her own studio in early 2017. Stimulated by ambitious projects, she spices up her creations by collaborating with various specialized companies. Following her attempts to bring a new angle that will make you smile and dream while being functional.

Iria Degen
Interior Designer (Studio Iria Degen)
After a law degree in Zürich and her studies at École Camondo in Paris, Iria Degen worked for the French interior architect, Andrée Putman. In 2000 she founded her own interior design studio. Today she runs her office in Zurich and has realized numerous international projects. She is a member of the Association of Swiss Interior Architects and she is the Swiss delegate of the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers.

Raphaël Lutz
Product and Industrial Designer (Studio Raphaël Lutz)
Graduated from ECAL in 2012, Raphaël Lutz is an industrial and product designer. An hyperactive entrepreneur at heart, he heads Studio Raphaël Lutz and its innovation spin-off HyperAktiv.li as well as the association Designers Table. Innovative and always focused on the needs of the end user, he creates, among other things, custom-made furniture and accessories for companies and individuals. He favours a short circuit and responsible manufacturing processes to minimise the ecological impact.

Lilia Geiser
Architect ECTS
Art has been part of her life since birth, with a mother who was an artist and a father who was an architect. Her architectural studies at the Athenaeum School of Architecture allow her to contribute to the creation of living and working spaces that correspond to everyone's expectations. In love with beautiful objects, captivated by colours and materials, passionate about interior architecture and design, she joined the team of Behr Créateur d'Intérieurs in Lutry in 2018 and became the head of the design office.

Fabien Roy
Designer and Architect
Swiss designer and architect graduated from University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Fribourg and ECAL, Fabien Roy worked as an architect for over ten years before setting up his own studio dedicated to furniture and product design as well as interior architecture. In 2022, he founded RISOU, a project dedicated to the development of wooden furniture made and sourced locally.

François Pugliese
Director & CEO of Elite
François Pugliese has an enterprising mindset and always wants to innovate in the bedding sector in oder to offer exceptional products within a focus on well-being and craftsmanship.
COMPETITION RESULTS

1st prize
"HEM" — Joris Bonnesoeur
Joris Bonnesoeur began by studying applied arts in the Champagne region. Trained in industrial design, he joined the Alstom studio in Paris, where he designed trains and tramways and founded a research centre focused on user experience. As a freelancer, he then worked with agencies and large groups to develop their products and design strategies. In 2019, he is involved in the design of the latest private jet for Dassault Aviation and is also working on the design of the future Nantes tramway. It is after a place in the final of a furniture competition, where he collaborates with Lucie Guinebault, that they decide to create their own agency Joie Design Office.
Jury's vision
The jury unanimously chose to award first place to “HEM”. The jury was impressed that this bed is very close to the brand’s aesthetic, very original and yet refined. The designer Joris Bonnesoeur completely understood the expectations of the House of Elite for the second year in a row.

2nd prize
"SAINT-GEORGE" — Fabien Roy
Born in 1984, Fabien Roy is a swiss designer and architect graduated from University of Applied Sciences and Arts, Fribourg and ECAL / University of Art and Design, Lausanne.
After working more than ten years as an architect, he set up his own studio dedicated to furniture and product design as well as interior architecture.Originally from and living in the Swiss Jura Mountains, he developed a strong connection with nature. His design look upon societal and environmental matters responsibly. To achieve that goal, his work pushes the boundaries by evolving at the crossroads of interdisciplinary collaborations such art, science, craft and new technologies.
Jury's vision
The jury unanimously chose to award first place to “HEM”. The jury was impressed that this bed is very close to the brand’s aesthetic, very original and yet refined. The designer Joris Bonnesoeur completely understood the expectations of the House of Elite for the second year in a row.

3rd prize
"WRAPPER" — Tuncay Ince
Tuncay Ince is an interior and product designer from Istanbul, Turkey. After graduating from Marmara University Faculty of Fine Arts in 2009, he advanced his experience in different design companies. Tuncay Ince has been working as a freelance worker in interior architecture and product design under the name of TUNCAY INCE STUDYO since 2015.
Having 12 years of experience and knowledge in the interior design sector and 6 years in the product design sector, Mr. Ince, has carried out at home and abroad many prestigious projects such as: residential, restaurant, shop, office, etc...
Jury's vision
Third place was awarded to “Wrapper” by designer Tuncay Ince. The jury was bowled over by the project’s creativity and its very functional, changing, but nonetheless minimalist character.