The Geneva University of Art and Design (HEAD – Genève) has been selected by Presence Switzerland, under the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), to showcase Swiss excellence in creativity and education during the Swiss Pavilion’s National Day at Expo 2025 Osaka. On 22 April 2025, HEAD – Genève will present My Name is Heidi, an immersive performance combining design and cinema. Through a contemporary and innovative approach, this work reimagines the iconic figure of Heidi, a timeless symbol of Swiss culture, offering a modern interpretation.

Heidi, an icon for reflecting on the present
My Name is Heidi explores universal themes such as identity, generational legacy, and the relationship between nature and modernity. By revisiting this iconic character, the performance examines how narratives, symbols, and cultural representations of Heidi evolve over time while retaining their resonance with past and present generations. Aligned with the Swiss Pavilion’s three core themes – Augmented Human, Life, and Planet – My Name is Heidi addresses the evolution of humanity and its environment.

Bringing together talent from three departments (Fashion, Jewellery and Accessory, and Cinema), this performance exemplifies the transdisciplinary approach that defines HEAD – Genève:
 - The Fashion Design Department investigates the relationship between clothing and identity, with pieces created specifically for the performance.
 - The Product Design - Jewellery and Accessory Department enhances the visual narrative by crafting pieces that complement the costumes, emphasising their symbolic dimension.
 - The Cinema Department integrates projections and staging to fully immerse the audience in this narrative world.

Panel Heidi Forever
Alongside the immersive performance My Name is Heidi, HEAD – Genève presents the panel Heidi Forever, a discussion exploring Heidi’s origins and her connections to Switzerland and Japan. Held at the Swiss Pavilion in Osaka, this event will feature Lada Umstätter, Director of HEAD – Genève; Prof. Dr. Takashi Kawashima; Douglas Edric Stanley, Designer and Master Lecturer in Media Design; and Anita Hugi, Head of the Cinema Department.

Together, they will examine Johanna Spyri’s original work and its many adaptations – from illustrations and film to virtual reality – bridging tradition and future visions.

Inclusive and timeless, Heidi brings together an international audience around a universal figure.

Je m’appelle Heidi reveals the wealth of Swiss know-how by combining design, cinema and artistic creation.
This performance pays homage to the subtle balance between tradition and innovation,
the cultural pillars of Switzerland’s international cultural influence.

Supervised by a multidisciplinary artistic committee from HEAD – Genève, comprising:
Joanna Haefeli, cultural and scientific project manager,
Lutz Huelle, head of the Product Design / Fashion, Jewellery and Accessory department,
David Roux-Fouillet, head of the Product / Jewellery and Accessory Design department,
Anita Hugi, head of the Cinema department,
Victor Prieux, artistic collaborator in the Product Design / Fashion, Jewellery and Accessory department,
Douglas Edric Stanley, professor in the Master Media Design programme.

Based on a research-creation project led by Anita Hugi,
the staging by Métilde Weyergans and Samuel Hercule lends the performance a singular dimension.

Download the english/french version of My Name is Heidi press kit here
Download the english/japanese version of My Name is Heidi press kit here
Download HD photos here