Sergio Cereda Design Award 2026

Eyewear occupies a unique position within design: it must function with technical precision while

also communicating identity. My project explores this dual role through a system inspired by the

culture, structure, and emotional landscape of the Olympic Games. By merging elements of

sport innovation, alpine heritage, and Italian design history, the collection proposes a future

where eyewear is adaptable, narrative-driven, and deeply connected to the individual.

The foundation of the project draws from the purposeful engineering of glacier glasses and the

pioneering ambition of Italian mountaineers such as Lino Lacedelli, first to summit K2 in 1954.

These early alpine frames were designed for survival, clarity, and focus, qualities central to

Olympic performance. This influence appears in the clean, protective silhouette of my designs,

which echo the confidence and functional rigor of classic mountaineering eyewear.

To balance this utilitarian foundation, the project is equally informed by the mountain-inspired

modernism of Charlotte Perriand. Her belief that objects should respond directly to human

needs and natural environments shaped the system-oriented approach of this collection. Rather

than designing two static frames, I created a modular ecosystem anchored by interchangeable

spandex temple pieces. This material choice, lightweight, high-performance, and intimately tied

to athletic culture, connects the project to the physicality of sport while introducing new space

for personalization.

Each frame uses the same spandex inserts but reveals a different side of the fabric: the optical

frame displays one side, while the sunglass reveals the reverse. The duel compatible spandex

inserts mirror the shifting stages of Olympic experience from training, competition, and

celebration and reflects the larger contrast between Milano, a global luxury hub, and Cortina

d’Ampezzo, an alpine center of winter sport. The result is eyewear that moves fluidly between

fashion and performance, discipline and expression.

The spandex pieces are designed for breadth and collectability. Variations include national-color

editions, athlete-inspired graphics, luxury fashion interpretations, and commemorative or

anniversary releases. The wearer becomes an active participant, curating their look based on

purpose, pride, or personal style. Even the case reinforces the system: it holds both the

eyewear and the fabric inserts, allowing users to wrap the spandex pieces around the case itself

to preview before wearing them. This transforms eyewear selection into a moment of intention,

an everyday ritual paralleling the preparation of athletes before stepping onto the world stage.

This collection also reflects my vision for the future role of eyewear designers in the industry. As

consumers seek objects that adapt to multiple identities and contexts, designers must think in

systems rather than isolated products. Eyewear should provide not only visual clarity but also

emotional clarity, enabling wearers to express who they are and how they want to move throughthe world. Material innovation, cross-disciplinary thinking, and customizable design structures

will define the next chapter of the industry.

At the heart of this project is the legacy of Sergio Cereda, whose work demonstrated that

eyewear is both architecture and experience. Cereda approached design with discipline, respect

for the craft, and a commitment to functional excellence. He elevated eyewear from accessory

to interface, something that must respond to the body, the environment, and the wearer’s sense

of self. My project honors this legacy by combining precise engineering with expressive

modularity, crafting a design system that adapts to its user while maintaining structural integrity

and purpose.

By uniting glacier-glass resilience, Perriand’s humanistic modernism, and the dual character of

Milano and Cortina with the dynamic spirit of the Olympics, this project proposes a

contemporary vision for eyewear: functional, personal, and alive with narrative. It is designed for

individuals who, like athletes and mountaineers, move with intention, choosing who they want to

be each time they put on their glasses.