ASTUDYOFFORM&FUNCTION
We believe in the permanence of digital objects. Every pixel placed is a decision archived, every interaction a dialogue preserved. This studio operates at the intersection of precision and restraint — where the craft speaks louder than the spectacle.
Our methodology draws from the traditions of Swiss typography and Bauhaus reduction, and the quiet confidence of objects built to endure. We do not chase trends. We build monuments.
Each project begins as a question: what is essential? Through rigorous iteration and an obsessive attention to material honesty, we arrive at solutions that feel inevitable — as though they could not have been any other way.
The archive you are about to explore represents a decade of work across identity systems, spatial design and digital environments. Every entry has been cataloged with the same care we bring to the work itself.
The Echo Pavilion exceeded every expectation. Visitors described the acoustic experience as "otherworldly." The precision of the form — derived purely from sound analysis — created a space that felt both ancient and impossibly modern. We have never received so many requests for a permanent installation.
Atlas has fundamentally transformed how passengers navigate our terminals. Legibility testing showed a 34% improvement in wayfinding speed compared to the previous system. The variable weight axis was essential for adapting signage across three vastly different airport environments.
In a biennale defined by spectacle, the Void Observatory offered something rare: silence. The calibration of each light point was extraordinary — visitors reported losing all sense of scale and time. This is design at its most transcendent.
“Design is the silent ambassador of your brand.”
Studio Founded
Elias Vorn establishes an independent practice in Zürich, operating from a 40m² studio overlooking the Limmat river. First commission: a wayfinding system for a private museum.
First International Project
Invited to design the visual identity for the São Paulo Architecture Biennial. The project marks the studio's first work outside Switzerland and establishes a methodology for large-scale identity systems.
Monolith Journal Launched
Co-founded and art-directed an independent quarterly journal dedicated to architecture criticism. The publication becomes a reference for editorial design in the architectural press.
Atlas Typeface Development Begins
Commissioned by the International Airports Council to develop a comprehensive wayfinding typeface. A 24-month research and design process begins with legibility studies across three continents.
Echo Pavilion — Serpentine Gallery
Designed and built a temporary pavilion derived entirely from acoustic analysis. The structure is later nominated for the Dezeen Award for temporary architecture.
Void Observatory — Venice Biennale
An immersive light installation is selected as one of the defining works of the 60th Venice Biennale. Over 120,000 visitors experience the work during its six-month exhibition.
Meridian House Completed
An 18-month residential commission is completed on the shores of Lake Zürich. The project is shortlisted for the Swiss Architecture Award and featured in Wallpaper* magazine.