Hugo Ledan

His goal: to create places that go beyond their function to become unique and memorable experiences.

Hugo Ledan did not grow up in a family of architects or designers. However, he says he has always been attracted to construction and object design. “I always wanted to be an architect,” he says. While searching for a school that would allow him to enter this field, he discovered ESMA on the Internet. This discovery changed his plans: “That’s when I discovered the profession of interior design. I liked it so much that I decided to continue down this path, finish my degree, and practice.” “

His time at ESMA was decisive. He remembers a lively campus and a stimulating student community. ”It’s a really vibrant community. It’s great,“ he says. But above all, it was the complementary nature of the teaching that marked his journey: ”We have teachers who are professionals, so they teach us practical things. And we have subjects that allow us to put what we’ve learned into practice so that we have a complete vision of an architectural project.” The school gave him the creative foundation he was looking for, as well as the initial technical basics that he would later build on at the agency.

He took his first steps in the profession at Ateliers A+, a large agency where he remained for three years. “It allowed me to gain more technical knowledge on various projects, across all types. I was able to work on retail, restaurants, hotels, transportation, and housing.” This diversity nourished his global vision and led him to plan for his own personal structure.

Among his achievements, one memory stands out: the 64-room hotel designed in Beaune with Ateliers A+. “It was a very open project with lots of possibilities. The client was very satisfied. For me, it’s a great project.”

With aesth+creative, he intends to pursue this ambition while broadening his scope of action. “The plan for the future is to continue developing the agency, supporting more and more professionals, establishing ourselves in the region to offer a more creative, more avant-garde overall design. And then to diversify a little in terms of project types.”

Invited to France Design Week, he also expressed his vision of “useful” design: “Useful design is design that does more than fulfill a function: it illuminates a use, embodies an intention, and reveals a context. “At aesth+creative, a project is considered useful when it is ”fair, well thought out, sustainable over time“ and when it leaves ”a tangible or emotional imprint on the minds of those who experience it.”

One project in particular illustrates this approach: the Kanso Café. “This minimalist space offers a double interpretation: during the day, its 3D-printed ceramic brick façade asserts a raw and contemporary presence in the urban space; at night, an integrated lighting system reveals a new graphic layer, almost invisible in daylight. The usefulness of the project lies in its ability to adapt to the rhythm of the city, offering a sensitive and changing experience.”

Throughout his career, Hugo Ledan has followed a consistent path: listening to users, technical curiosity, and constantly renewed creativity. “If I have one piece of advice to give, it’s to be creative above all else, to always leave doors open, to remain curious, but also to take the time to complete each project.”

Watch his video to find out more about his experience: