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Silmo Paris Optical Design Contest Finalists Announced

Silmo Paris 2026, the optical trade show scheduled to take place Sept. 25-28, has announced the finalists for the fifth edition of the Optical Design Contest.

 

Eyecare Business July 20, 2026

Silmo Paris 2026, the optical trade show scheduled to take place Sept. 25-28 at the Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, has announced the finalists for the fifth edition of the Optical Design Contest.  

Each year, the Optical Design Contest offers design students an opportunity to rethink eyewear through the lens of design, innovation, and new uses. This year's theme was "The Future of Optics: What Vision?" and Olivier Lapidus, an internationally renowned designer, is presiding over the content. 

The winning project will receive a €10,000 prize, shared equally between the student and their educational institution. The 10 nominated projects will be showcased at Silmo Paris 2026 before 1 overall winner is selected.

Explore the designs here:  

Alogaki, by Elsa de Miguel, Paula Gómez, and Adriana González of the Universidad de Valladolid (Spain), is a system designed for deaf and visually impaired users, inspired by the praying mantis. A stabilizing wing enables the frame to transform into a standalone hearing implant when removed, powered by a dedicated micro-battery.
Alogaki, by Elsa de Miguel, Paula Gómez, and Adriana González of the Universidad de Valladolid (Spain), is a system designed for deaf and visually impaired users, inspired by the praying mantis. A stabilizing wing enables the frame to transform into a standalone hearing implant that is powered by a dedicated micro-battery when removed.

 

Arch Terrain, by Megan Brodmerkel of Savannah College of Art and Design (USA), is 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.
Arch Terrain, by Megan Brodmerkel of Savannah College of Art and Design (USA), is 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, by Sophia Denison of Savannah College of Art and Design (USA), is an experimental eyewear collection addressing the modern "attention crisis" by recreating dream-like sensory experiences through visual distortion.
Dreamscape, by Sophia Denison of Savannah College of Art and Design (USA), is an experimental eyewear collection that addresses the modern "attention crisis" by recreating dream-like sensory experiences through visual distortion.

 

Emoslow, by Océane Gallais of CY Cergy Paris Université (France), is 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 color as stress levels increase, helping children recognize and express their emotions.
Emoslow, by Océane Gallais of CY Cergy Paris Université (France), is 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 and triggers electrochromic lenses that gradually change color as stress levels increase to help children recognize and express their emotions. A companion mobile app provides personalized monitoring/guided breathing exercises.

 

Ground, by Tidiane Cardot, Atlas Ozer, and Theo Vanpoperynghe of Rubika ISD (France), is "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.
Ground, by Tidiane Cardot, Atlas Ozer, and Theo Vanpoperynghe of Rubika ISD (France), is "Transition eyewear" equipped with an EEG sensor that captures brainwaves and generates animated cymatic patterns within electrochromic lenses to help users move smoothly between periods of cognitive effort through guided meditation or refocusing.

 

Halo, by Thibault Lacroix and Basile Fruteau de Laclos of L'école de Design Nantes Atlantique (France), is 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.
Halo, by Thibault Lacroix and Basile Fruteau de Laclos of L'école de Design Nantes Atlantique (France), is dual-lens eyewear designed for Generation Z working in open-plan and flexible offices. A corrective lens is paired with a second polycarbonate lens that incorporates Solid Polymerised Gel SPD (Suspended Particle Device) technology, which allows the wearer's peripheral vision to darken electronically at the touch of a button for enhanced concentration.

 

Learning to See, by Sini Virtanen of Aalto University, School of Art Design and Architecture (Finland), is 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.
Learning to See, by Sini Virtanen of Aalto University, School of Art Design and Architecture (Finland), is AI-powered eyewear that combines 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, by Amandine Crépin of CY Cergy Paris Université (France), is children's eyewear made from recycled polycarbonate with photosensitive pigments that change color (from transparent to violet) when exposed to UV light, encouraging sun protection awareness in a fun and engaging way.
Lupo, by Amandine Crépin of CY Cergy Paris Université (France), is children's eyewear made from recycled polycarbonate with photosensitive pigments that change color (from transparent to violet) when exposed to UV light, encouraging sun protection awareness in a fun and engaging way.

 

Prome, by Camille Déniel of L'Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique (France), is a piece of "everyday jewellery" crafted from recycled stainless steel, featuring interchangeable temples in 3 sizes (S/M/L) and magnetic accessories that allow users to transform the look of their frames without replacing the entire pair.
Prome, by Camille Déniel of L'Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique (France), is a piece of "everyday jewellery" that is crafted from recycled stainless steel. The design features interchangeable temples in 3 sizes (S/M/L) and magnetic accessories that allow users to transform the look of their frames without replacing the entire pair.

 

Spora, by Mateo Caballero Rodrigo, Mario Carrasco García, and Gabriel Casado Matesanz of Universidad de Valladolid (Spain), is eyewear grown rather than manufactured, using mycelium cultivated on agricultural waste, moulded and stabilized through gentle heat treatment. The result is a 100% biodegradable and compostable frame, with every piece naturally unique.
Spora, by Mateo Caballero Rodrigo, Mario Carrasco García, and Gabriel Casado Matesanz of Universidad de Valladolid (Spain), is eyewear grown rather than manufactured. It uses mycelium cultivated on agricultural waste and is moulded and stabilized through gentle heat treatment. The result is a 100% biodegradable, compostable, and naturally unique frame.