Computer science student Arthur Prahin’s design was selected as the visual identity for the new Social Science and Humanities (SHS) Program brochure.Like most computer science students at EPFL, Arthur Prahin has devoted countless hours to programming. At the same time, recognizing that a digital interface is about much more than technical functionality, he has always had a strong interest in graphic design. When the opportunity arose to strengthen his skills by enrolling in the course Graphic Design - Experimental approach, taught by Denis Roueche and Tamara Niklaus, both instructors at ECAL (Lausanne University of Art and Design) and SHS lecturers at EPFL, he eagerly embraced it.For the second consecutive year, the course challenged its 80 students to create, either individually or in teams of up to four, five visual concepts representing both EPFL and the human-centered, community-building spirit of the SHS Program. Among the 25 projects submitted, Arthur Prahin’s proposal was selected as the graphic identity for the brochure.Inspiration at the heart of the projectAt the beginning of the course, Roueche and Tamara Niklaus, an ECAL instructor and SHS lecturer at EPFL, provided students with inspiration by introducing themes and ideas to explore.“We encourage students to stay curious, observe the world around them, train their eye—much like developing a refined palate in cooking—and cultivate a critical perspective. We often discuss how graphic design is present everywhere in our daily lives, from clothing and schools to currency, maps, signage, and typography. We also introduce them to references such as the 100 Beste Plakate, the @swissposters Instagram account, the work of Experimental Jetset and Claudiabasel, as well as the Museum fur Gestaltung in Zurich.”A tribute to interdisciplinarityInspired by the iconic subway maps of major European cities, Prahin envisioned a graphic representation of the connections between different worlds. He then developed the concept further after studying the work of renowned Italian designer Massimo Vignelli, while incorporating his own creative variations.“Those with a keen eye will notice that the map follows the outline of the EPFL campus,” he says. “My goal was to represent the many different paths a student can take and to pay tribute to the interdisciplinary nature of the SHS Program.”Creativity in the service of engineeringDenis Roueche believes that graphic design is an essential asset for tomorrow’s engineers.“Like many fields that shape our everyday lives without us always realizing it, design is an integral part of our environment. By engaging with it, EPFL students develop a deeper understanding of the visual world around them, broaden their perspective, and sharpen their critical thinking. This course also provides them with the skills and tools needed to create graphic projects, collaborate effectively with professional designers, structure their ideas, and communicate them with clarity, relevance, and creativity.”For Arthur Prahin, the greatest surprise was the level of autonomy students were given throughout the course.“Each group was free to shape its project according to its own vision while benefiting from Denis and Tamara’s guidance and thoughtful feedback. Our weekly discussions about the brochure’s progress proved especially valuable and became an important learning experience. In addition, discovering a wide range of graphic design references and seeing the projects created by other students greatly enriched the course.”The experience enabled him to develop a broad set of practical skills related to graphic design, including the creative process, specialized digital tools, print production techniques, and the fundamental principles of visual composition. Beyond these technical skills, he emphasizes the importance of ongoing feedback.“Receiving outside perspectives and testing my ideas against those of others allowed me to step back, explore new directions, and arrive at solutions I probably would not have found on my own.”According to him, this collaborative approach is one of the course’s most valuable lessons—one that extends far beyond this project and will continue to benefit him in his future endeavors.