Elvira Mühlebach

Elvira Mühlebach is a Lecturer at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU), specifically within the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art. She holds dual roles in the Art Foundation Course and the Spatial Design Bachelor's program. Her academic journey includes an apprenticeship in structural drafting, followed by studies in Industrial Design at the Zurich University of the Arts and a gap year in Fine Arts in Bristol. She has led key initiatives such as the transdisciplinary third semester in Interior Design (2010–2019), focusing on furniture and lighting prototypes, and currently oversees the Kickoff Days for new students.

• Education:
  • Apprenticeship in Structural Drafting
  • Lucerne Preparatory Design Course
  • Bachelor/Master in Industrial Design (ZHdK)
  • Fine Arts Gap Year (Bristol)
• Key Roles:
  • Co-developer of the cooperative semester with HSLU's Engineering & Architecture School
  • Admissions Portfolio Jury (Interior Design)
  • PBL Training Coordinator (HKU Utrecht)

Her research interests revolve around the physical and conceptual dialogue between everyday objects and humans. This includes exploring materiality, form, and interdisciplinary approaches to design education. She has pioneered projects like the Rapid-3D initiative and contributed to modular system house research. Her work emphasizes the transformative potential of design beyond functional utility.

Awards:

• Hoesch Design Award (Student)
• HGKZ Förderpreis for Diplomarbeit (2000)

Academic Contributions:

• Guided over 150 students through transdisciplinary interior design projects
• Developed analog spatial visualization curricula
• Promoted inter-institutional collaboration across design disciplines

Elvira Mühlebach's work integrates practical design skills with pedagogical innovation, shaping future designers through hands-on prototyping and interdisciplinary problem-solving frameworks.