Patouch, an association committed to preventing violence against children, had already developed prevention content designed to support families and professionals. The idea of turning it into a tool that would be more accessible, easier to share and easier to use in everyday life was already there, but the right framework was still missing to transform it into a digital tool. The turning point came during an event dedicated to digital creation organised by PRISM. While listening to the presentation by HES-SO Valais-Wallis, Laure Seixas-Maniglier and her colleagues thought again about this idea that had been waiting in the wings. For the first time, a possible path seemed to emerge.
“We had had this idea for a long time. During that meeting, something clicked. We realised that this was exactly the kind of collaboration we needed.”
A few days later, the first discussions began. HES-SO suggested integrating the project into an exchange programme with a university in Helsinki. Within a few months, Finnish students developed a first prototype made up of several mini-games. This first step confirmed the project’s potential and convinced HES-SO to continue the adventure in Valais through a bachelor’s thesis. The project then took on a new scale. The mini-games were no longer seen as a standalone result, but as the starting point for an app bringing together several of the association’s educational tools.
An idea that grows through dialogue
Jonathan, a student at HES-SO, chose Patouch’s project from among several bachelor’s thesis proposals. What was meant to be a diploma project quickly became a genuine collaboration. The working sessions took the form of brainstorming meetings where ideas moved quickly from the whiteboard to the screen.
As the app began to take shape, the project grew richer. The mini-games were joined by audiobooks, a “Quiet Time” space, prevention videos, a map of Patouch Zones and resources for parents. The app was even translated into four languages.
“We thought we would adapt a few activities. Then, when we saw what was possible, we began imagining everything we could build around it. The project grew almost naturally.”
At the end of his bachelor’s thesis, the adventure did not stop there. Impressed by the quality of his work, the association hired Jonathan to continue developing the app and ensure its maintenance.
An app that brings together complementary professions
As a motion designer at Patouch, Laure Seixas-Maniglier manages the app project and also shapes much of its creative universe. The illustrations, art direction, animations, audiobooks and character voices bear her signature. Alongside her, the psychopedagogy team adapts the content, while Jonathan develops the app and refines its user experience.
Laure’s background in the video game industry made it easier to work with the young developer. Used to collaborating with developers, Laure expected to have to rework a significant part of the interface once the development was complete. In the end, almost no changes were needed. A surprise that says a lot about the quality of the collaboration.
“Jonathan did not just develop the app. He also suggested improvements we would not have thought of. I was impressed by the quality of his work and by his sensitivity to design.”
The next steps of the project will involve other areas of expertise, including translators and voice actors, to adapt the audio content into German and English.
A collaboration that opens up new perspectives
Today, Patouch is already thinking about new content for the app, particularly around school bullying. If these developments come to life, the association would be delighted to collaborate with HES-SO Valais-Wallis again.
“What struck me most was how fluid the collaboration was. Ideas circulated freely. Everyone brought their own expertise and, at each new stage, the project took on a dimension we could never have imagined on our own.”
The app is now the most visible result of this adventure. But what Laure remembers most is everything that was built around it: ideas that evolved, professions that entered into dialogue, and trust that made it possible to go further than anyone could have imagined alone.
PRISM, where ideas meet the right people
Patouch’s story shows just how much one encounter can help a project evolve. On one side, an idea waiting to take shape. On the other, the skills capable of giving it form. Between the two, a PRISM event that allowed the right people to meet and enabled the project to grow.
This story is not an isolated case. Through its events, support measures and networking activities, PRISM connects entrepreneurs with the skills, institutions and partners they need to move forward. These encounters bring together professions that might otherwise never have crossed paths. Sometimes, they give rise to unexpected, ambitious projects rooted in real needs on the ground.
The most beautiful journeys often begin with a simple connection.
Do you have an idea to test, a project in progress or a challenge to tackle? PRISM events are here to open doors, connect you with the ecosystem and help you find the right people at the right time.
