LVMH and Institut Français de la Mode launch the “Sciences & Creation” Chair, dedicated to new scientific approaches to creativity

LVMH and Institut Français de la Mode (IFM) announce the creation of the “Sciences & Creation” Chair, an academic partnership dedicated to the study of the mechanisms of creation and their contemporary transformations. At the crossroads of fashion, luxury, the humanities, cognitive sciences and emerging technologies, this pioneering initiative aims to develop new knowledge of creative processes, enrich IFM’s teaching programs and strengthen the links between research, talent and the Maisons of the LVMH Group.

For several years, LVMH has developed high-level academic partnerships with leading institutions to support reflection, knowledge transfer and innovation in the fields shaping the future of its Maisons. Through these Chairs, the Group supports the production of knowledge, fosters dialogue between research and the professional world, and helps bring new perspectives to major contemporary issues. They also contribute to identifying, training and supporting the talents of tomorrow, preparing, alongside academic institutions, the new generations who will shape the future of fashion and luxury.

“Better understanding the mechanisms of creativity has become an essential challenge in supporting the transformations of our creative industries. Because knowledge is essential to inspiration, innovation and the passing on of expertise, we are convinced that dialogue between science, academic excellence and the savoir-faire of the Maisons can open up new perspectives. With the ‘Sciences & Creation’ Chair, we aim not only to shed light on the major challenges of tomorrow, but also to identify, support and train the talents who will shape the future of fashion and luxury,” said Maud Alvarez-Pereyre, Group Chief Human Resources Officer, LVMH.

In particular, the Chair will produce original empirical data on the practices of creators, the impact of new technological tools and the social dynamics of aesthetic innovation. It will also examine the mechanisms of creativity, integrating formal, experimental and social sciences, as well as issues related to technological innovation.

“Creation lies at the very heart of fashion and luxury. With the ‘Sciences & Creation’ Chair, together with LVMH, we aim to open a space for research and knowledge transfer dedicated to understanding the mechanisms of creativity. Exploring the contribution of science, emerging technologies and artificial intelligence means helping prepare the future of our creative industries while remaining true to what makes them unique: excellence, culture and creativity,” said Sidney Toledano, President of Institut Français de la Mode.

A collaboration between academic excellence and industry expertise

By partnering with IFM, a leading international academic institution in the fields of fashion, design and management, LVMH places this initiative within an intellectual, educational and operational framework.

This partnership brings together two leading players, representing both industry expertise and academic excellence. It will help inform the Group’s reflections on major contemporary issues related to creation, innovation, knowledge transfer, the appeal of creative professions and the evolution of the creative industries.

A program of initiatives at the crossroads of research, education and the Maisons

With this Chair, LVMH and Institut Français de la Mode will bring to life a program of initiatives combining research, education and immersion in the realities of the Maisons: courses, workshops, support programs, business cases, scientific publications and conferences.

The Chair is intended for students of Institut Français de la Mode through several educational formats deployed across the school’s different programs: a Specialized Master’s course in management bringing together approximately 80 to 90 students; a cross-disciplinary elective course open to Master’s students in management and creation for 30 to 40 participants; as well as a workshop and support program designed for 2 to 6 design students.

Three major research areas at the crossroads of knowledge and practice

The Chair is structured around three major research areas, drawing on the full diversity of the sciences, notably cognitive, computational and social sciences, as well as emerging technologies, to better understand, nurture and support contemporary creative processes. By examining the mechanisms of inspiration, interactions between humans and machines, and the cultural and collective dimensions of creation, this work aims to better understand the conditions in which ideas, talent and creative innovation emerge.

“Creation and cognition” aims to deepen understanding of the mental, perceptual and gestural mechanisms at work in creative processes, as well as the conditions in which intuition, expertise and inspiration emerge. 

“Computational models of creation” explores the role of artificial intelligence systems and generative tools in contemporary creative practices, as well as new forms of collaboration between humans and machines.

“Social sciences and anthropology of creation” examines the cultural, collective, symbolic and social dimensions of creation, analyzing the environments, networks and contexts that foster the emergence of talent and the recognition of aesthetic innovation.

A lever for strengthening the appeal, knowledge transfer and influence of creative professions

By strengthening the links between research, education and industry, the “Sciences & Creation” Chair is guided by a clear ambition: to better understand the mechanisms of creativity in order to better support talent, shed light on the transformations of the sector and prepare the future of fashion and luxury. This initiative reflects the Group’s commitment to contributing to the influence of creative professions, knowledge transfer and the emergence of the talents who will shape the future of fashion and luxury.

By combining IFM’s academic excellence with LVMH’s creative, industrial and cultural expertise, this partnership will offer students an in-depth understanding of the professions, savoir-faire and transformations of the sector, notably through key moments such as the INSIDE LVMH Days, immersive days of exchange between students and the teams of the Group and its Maisons.

Some initiatives may also involve the Maisons in educational projects or business cases, offering students the opportunity to address real-life challenges and enabling teams to enrich their thinking through IFM’s academic and creative perspective.

© Gehry Partners, LLP and Frank O. Gehry