Things in physical space
(deutsche VersionBig John. Docufiction
Master’s thesis, 2025 / Cultural publishing, Zurich University of the Arts
Smilla Diener
(Translated abstract:) In their master's thesis "Big John", Smilla Diener searches for traces in stone – and comes across Hermann Ernst, who, as the world's best tunnel boring machine builder, transformed the surface of the earth for half a century. From the perspective of Hermann's widow Marisa, Diener explores his legacy.
‘Big John’ is a tabloid-format publication. With its large sentences and images, it invites readers to browse and linger, to read at home, on the tram, on the train, in the office, in the gravel pit, at the top of the pass, in the tunnel. The text oscillates between documentary, fictionalised and fictional passages and weaves a narrative about the fastest century in the history of the Earth. In doing so, the text carries forward central questions of the Anthropocene discourse: Who are the builders of the Great Upward Ramp, the Great Acceleration? Where do the vast quantities of material we use come from and where do they go? What is landscape? And who does it belong to?
Smilla Diener
(Translated abstract:) In their master's thesis "Big John", Smilla Diener searches for traces in stone – and comes across Hermann Ernst, who, as the world's best tunnel boring machine builder, transformed the surface of the earth for half a century. From the perspective of Hermann's widow Marisa, Diener explores his legacy.
‘Big John’ is a tabloid-format publication. With its large sentences and images, it invites readers to browse and linger, to read at home, on the tram, on the train, in the office, in the gravel pit, at the top of the pass, in the tunnel. The text oscillates between documentary, fictionalised and fictional passages and weaves a narrative about the fastest century in the history of the Earth. In doing so, the text carries forward central questions of the Anthropocene discourse: Who are the builders of the Great Upward Ramp, the Great Acceleration? Where do the vast quantities of material we use come from and where do they go? What is landscape? And who does it belong to?
Design der Dinge – 1 How is value created?
Video dialogue format, 2022 / Zurichstudio hotmess (new: Rodeo Publishing)
Design der Dinge is a dialogue format by Géraldine Waespi and Smilla Diener that deals with design topics using case studies. The pilot episode was created for the exhibition “Repair Revolution!” (31.3. - 15.10.2023) at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich.
Waldo: Object for Negotiation
Diploma thesis, 2023 / Industrial Design, Zurich University of the ArtsGéraldine Waespi and Smilla Diener
What does a compostable spoon tell us about our trust in the future? "Waldo" confronts designers and the curious with essential questions about the ecosystem of things. The object stimulates a debate about good design decisions for a liveable tomorrow.
Designing Trojan Horses
Documentation for the diploma thesis "Waldo", 2023 / Industrial Design, Zurich University of the Arts
Géraldine Waespi and Smilla Diener
Documentation of the bachelor thesis "Waldo", in collaboration with Géraldine Waespi. The work summarises experiments on the question of how (industrial) designers should relate to their work today and makes suggestions on how outdated design roles could be subverted.
Spicher
Product concept (presentation slides), 2022 / Industrial Design, Zurich University of the ArtsAre the fitted kitchens in our city flats still up to date? "Spicher" utilises the principle of an old invention: The Hurde. Like the storage racks in a farmyard storehouse, "Spicher" utilises the different climatic conditions of a living space to store food without a refrigerator.