Call for Applications: Oui Design! Los Angeles
Sutherlin Santo, Biocraft, 2020. Image courtesy of artist.
Discover a new professional immersion program in Los Angeles for sustainability-driven designers.
In partnership with the Laboratoire des pratiques durables of the Manufactures Nationales – Mobilier National & Sèvres, Villa Albertine is now accepting applications for a ten-day professional immersion program in Los Angeles and the Californian desert, aimed at French or France-based designers developing projects around innovative materials, sustainable practices and cutting-edge technology. The program aims to foster meaningful connections between French designers and the dynamic professional ecosystem of Southern California.
Program Overview
The immersion program, taking place from November 11 to 22 (including travel time), will feature:
- Meetings with institution representatives, curators, architects, designers, entrepreneurs, gallery owners, and academics, as well as visits to iconic sites.
- Visits to cutting-edge laboratories specializing in materials innovation, sustainable production, and new technologies.
- A conference at a cultural institution during which participants will present their work and research.
- A launch event attended by industry professionals.
- Personalized support to understand the creative landscape of the West Coast.
Logistical Support
Villa Albertine will cover:
- Round trip travel from France to Los Angeles
- Accommodations, meals, and transportation
Eligibility Requirements
The program is open to candidates meeting the following criteria:
- Be a designer under 45 years of age, with a minimum of five years of professional work experience in the field.
- Possess French nationality or have been living and working in France for at least 5 years.
- Are developing applied research or a concrete project involving sustainable materials or production innovations in the field of design.
- Have a good command of English.
Application Materials
Applications should be submitted via this form and include the following materials:
- A cover letter, explaining the candidate’s interest in this immersion experience with regard to their background, their eco-responsible approach, and their objectives in the United States.
- A short biography (1500 characters max.)
- A portfolio of work
- A two-minute video, introducing the candidate and demonstrating their ability to communicate in English.
- A copy of a valid passport (at least 4 months after the return date)
- Proof of SIRET number
Applications will be evaluated by an independent French-American jury, comprised of design, innovation, and research professionals, based on the quality of the project, its potential for economic development, its relevance to California’s design scene, and the applicant’s motivation.
Timeline
- Call for applications open : May 14,2025
- Application deadline: June 14, 2025 at 11:59 PM (French time)
- Selection by jury: End of June 2025
- Announcement of laureates: July 2025
This program is supported by Manufactures nationales, Fondation Bettencourt Schueller, Institut français, and Lionel and Ariane Sauvage.
If you have any questions before submitting your application, please contact:
Diane Josse, Cultural Attaché & Director of the Visual Arts, Craft & Design, Performing Arts & Music Department
diane.josse@villa-albertine.org
Zoé Appy, Program Officer, Craft & Design
zoe.appy@villa-albertine.org
Océane Arnaud, Cultural Attachée in Los Angeles
oceane.arnaud@villa-albertine.org
In partnership with
Albertine Foundation
Previously known as FACE Foundation, Albertine Foundation is an American nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting French-American relations through innovative cultural and educational projects. In close partnership with Villa Albertine, the French Institute for Culture and Education of the French Embassy in the United States, Albertine Foundation promotes artistic, literary, and educational exchange and collaboration between creative professionals from both countries thanks to corporate, foundation, and individual support.
Follow Albertine Foundation on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Manufactures nationales – Sèvres & Mobilier national
Resulting from the merger between the Mobilier national and the Cité de la Céramique – Sèvres & Limoges, the National Manufactures were established on January 1, 2025, to promote the excellence of French craftsmanship and highlight the richness of both tangible and intangible heritage through more than 53 artistic crafts practiced within its manufactures and workshops.
Unique worldwide, this new public entity dedicated to decorative arts, crafts, and design combines heritage and creation to play a central role in implementing the national strategy in support of artistic crafts.
Its mission is structured around six key priorities: education and training; research; creation; support for the fragile ecosystem of artistic crafts; heritage promotion; and the international outreach of craftsmanship.
As the heir to four centuries of history, it comprises two museums (the National Museum of Ceramics in Sèvres and the Adrien Dubouché National Museum in Limoges), nine manufactures and creative workshops (including the Sèvres National Manufactory, the Gobelins Tapestry Manufactory, the Beauvais Tapestry Manufactory, the Savonnerie Carpet Manufactory, the lace workshops of Alençon and Le Puy-en-Velay, and the Research and Creation Workshop for contemporary furniture), seven restoration workshops, and a furnishing commission.
Firmly rooted in local territories, this public institution operates across eight departments: in Paris, Hauts-de-Seine (Sèvres), Hérault (Lodève), Creuse (Aubusson), Orne (Alençon), Haute-Loire (Le Puy-en-Velay), Haute-Vienne (Limoges), and Oise (Beauvais).
Bettencourt Schueller Foundation
Bettencourt Schueller Foundation strives to embody the will of a family, driven by the spirit of enterprise and awareness of its social role, to reveal talents and help them thrive, in three fields that contribute concretely to the common good: life sciences, the arts and solidarity. Both a family foundation and recognized as a public utility since its creation in 1987, the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation intends to give wings to talent to contribute to the success and influence of France.
Institut français
The Institut français is responsible for France’s international cultural program. Supervised by both the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and by the Ministry of Culture, it promotes French culture abroad through cultural exchange initiatives. Operating in a space where the arts, intellectual exchange, cultural and social innovation, and linguistic partnerships interact and intersect, it is also responsible for promoting the French language and the sharing of works, artists, and ideas all over the world. The Institut français is one of Villa Albertine’s main French partners.