DESIGNER TRAINING

Given the importance of the watch industry in Switzerland, specific training courses in watch design are organized, especially in the schools of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Lausanne and Geneva.

The designer attends full time vocational training courses lasting for two years at these schools. The training given for instance by the school in la Chaux-de-Fonds is built around a central workshop with peripheral workshops and satellite courses, an internship in a watch company, a diploma examination and personal studies.

The central workshop comprises computerised work stations for computer-assisted design as well as benches and the tooling needed to make prototypes. The peripheral workshops and courses include tuition in English, visual and verbal communication, professional skills, drawing, history of design, 3D IT systems (CAD), marketing and business management as well as photography. Then there are seminars and workshops as well as visits to companies.