SILMO Paris 2026: Optical Design Contest Nominees

Because innovation also begins with fresh ideas, SILMO Paris has made supporting emerging talent one of its core commitments. More than an international gathering for the optical industry, the exhibition nurtures creativity, encourages experimentation and shines a spotlight on the designers shaping tomorrow’s optical world.

A true international launchpad, the Optical Design Contest offers design students a unique opportunity each year to rethink eyewear through the lens of design, innovation and new uses.

For the 2026 edition, dedicated to the theme “The Future of Optics: What Vision?”, the jury is chaired by Olivier Lapidus, the internationally renowned designer whose career, spanning fashion, design and innovation, brings a distinctive perspective to the competing projects.

Ten projects have been shortlisted from entries submitted by students around the world. Reflecting the diversity of design cultures and the creativity of a new generation, they present bold concepts that are already helping to shape the conversation around the future of optics.

The ten nominated projects will be showcased at SILMO Paris 2026, before one overall winner is selected. The winning project will receive a €10,000 prize, shared equally between the student and their educational institution.

The nominees are:

ALOGAKI – Elsa de Miguel / Paula Gómez / Adriana González  – Universidad de Valladolid (Spain)

A premium system designed for deaf and visually impaired users, inspired by the praying mantis. A stabilising wing enables the frame to transform into a standalone hearing implant when removed, powered by a dedicated micro-battery.

ARCH TERRAIN – Megan Brodmerkel – Savannah College of Art and Design (USA)

Adaptive sports eyewear for climbing, hiking and cycling. The temple tension and lens-to-face distance can be adjusted in real time using a BOA-inspired dial, combined with an elastic hinge and precision rail system.

DREAMSCAPE – Sophia Denison – Savannah College of Art and Design (USA)

An experimental eyewear collection addressing the modern “attention crisis” by recreating dream-like sensory experiences through visual distortion.

EMOSLOW – Océane Gallais – CY Cergy Paris Université (France)

Smart eyewear for children aged 8 to 12 experiencing concentration difficulties, anxiety, hypersensitivity or emotional regulation disorders (ADHD, ASD). An integrated heart-rate sensor continuously monitors the child’s heartbeat, triggering electrochromic lenses that gradually change colour as stress levels increase, helping children recognise and express their emotions. A companion mobile app provides personalised monitoring and guided breathing exercises.

GROUND – Tidiane Cardot / Atlas Ozer / Theo Vanpoperynghe – Rubika ISD (France)

“Transition eyewear” equipped with an EEG sensor that captures brainwaves and generates animated cymatic patterns within electrochromic lenses, helping users move smoothly between periods of cognitive effort through guided meditation or refocusing.

HALO – Thibault Lacroix / Basile Fruteau de Laclos – L’école de Design Nantes Atlantique (France)

Dual-lens eyewear designed for Generation Z working in open-plan and flexible offices. A corrective lens is paired with a second polycarbonate lens incorporating Solid Polymerised Gel SPD (Suspended Particle Device) technology, allowing the wearer’s peripheral vision to darken electronically at the touch of a button for enhanced concentration.

LEARNING TO SEE – Sini VIRTANEN – Aalto University, School of Art Design and Architecture (Finland)

AI-powered eyewear combining eye tracking, computer vision and augmented reality to reverse the traditional learning process by enabling users to “see like an expert” before acquiring theoretical knowledge across subjects such as architecture, biology and history.

LUPO – Amandine Crépin – CY Cergy Paris Université (France)

Children’s eyewear made from recycled polycarbonate with photosensitive pigments that change colour (from transparent to violet) when exposed to UV light, encouraging sun protection awareness in a fun and engaging way.

PROME – Camille Déniel – L’Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique (France)

A piece of “everyday jewellery” crafted from recycled stainless steel, featuring interchangeable temples in three sizes (S/M/L) and magnetic accessories that allow users to transform the look of their frames without replacing the entire pair.

SPORA – Mateo Caballero Rodrigo / Mario Carrasco García / Gabriel Casado Matesanz- Universidad de Valladolid (Spain)

Eyewear grown rather than manufactured, using mycelium cultivated on agricultural waste, moulded and stabilised through gentle heat treatment. The result is a 100% biodegradable and compostable frame, with every piece naturally unique.

More than ever, the season starts here. Join SILMO from 25 to 28 September at Paris Nord Villepinte to discover the ten nominated projects and the winner of the 2026 Optical Design Contest.