Franco Dominici - Segis

About

Based in the town of Poggibonsi in the region of Tuscany, Segis is a young and innovative furniture manufacturer that is currently on the leading edge of sustainable methods and practices, while simultaneously maintaining a classically Italian attention to quality and joy of use. As we also saw when with some of the other young companies we interviewed in Milan, Segis' youth and size can be advantageous as it allows these companies to be more flexible and adventurous, while also being more in tune with modern trends in materials, processes, ideas, and styles. In Segis' case this can be seen both in their designs as well as in the machines and processes of their factory. Many of which have been developed in house and with a particular emphasis on quality and sustainability. In terms of materials the company works almost entirely in metals, plastics, and polyurethane (although they recently acquired a company that focuses on wooden furniture.)

Factory Tour

Link to factory tour video here

The processes in the factory are equally modern. The tools and machines of the factory are sophisticated and in many cases are also developed by the company itself, such as some of the steel bending robots as well as assembly stations and the company's painting system. It is within the processes of the factory that Segis' focus on sustainable processes can best be seen as well. Many of the machines and stations, both automated as well as manned, are designed to maximize safety and efficiency while simultaneously minimizing waste. Nowhere is this more evident than in the painting factory where their system for painting components and parts operates with almost no waste at all in terms of paint, chemicals, and water.

However the factory, and the furniture made there, does not skew so far towards modernity as to lose sight of the ideas and skills of the past that are valuable. Where human skill is required in order to achieve the highest quality that skill remains in use within the factory such as the brass welders, the workers in the upholstery area, and most importantly, the 3 technicians in the rear of the factory who are largely responsible for making the designer's Ideas into a manufacturable reality.

This balance of looking to the future while remembering the past can be seen in the furniture itself as well. The style of the pieces reflect the company's age as the early pieces that were developed during the 80's are similar in style to those being designed by Magistretti and others around that time. Moving forward since these founding pieces one can see furniture that has been designed by individuals that span the range from maestri such as Sottsas, to young designers such as (name of Bartolli's daughter needed), and George Sowden.

Interview Ideas

After the tour of the company’s factory we sat down with the company’s founder Franco Dominici. Mr. Dominici discussed a variety of subjects with us during the factory tour as well as during the interview but a key thread that ran through everything that we spoke of and witnessed was the importance of quality in all aspects. Whether in terms of the skills and methods, the materials and forms, and in the ideas and designs that drive them. Some of the key themes and ideas that were discussed during the interview and the tour included…

On Skill and Knowledge

Skilled labor and many of the manual skills and technical knowledge that are essential to the quality of the products crafted in Italy are slowly being lost. The number of people who pursue these trades is decreasing and as the numbers decrease so too does the quality of what is produced. This is a key Issue for many nations and is not a problem that is faced by Italy alone but it is one that is particular concern for Italian companies because it is this degree of quality and skill that, when combined with great design, really sets the Italian firms apart from manufacturers in other nations. While these manual skills are disappearing though, the knowledge of design and the quality of the knowledge and work produced on this level is improving. While the improvement in design knowledge and design ideas is to be celebrated, Mr. Dominici stated in our tour of the Segis factory that the skill and knowledge of those working within it are part of the soul of a firm and are the ones whose effort and knowledge allows the great ideas and design to become something usable that is of a quality that allows it to be truly sustainable.

On Younger Designers

While the education and training of younger designers is quite different when compared with that of the maestri this does not necessarily mean that it is worse or that designers of similar or greater skill are not developing. Mr. Dominici made the point during our interview that it was through long and productive relationships with companies like Alessi and Danese that many of the maestri established and practiced their craft, and only over time did they begin to become so well known and so influential. Younger designers are still working and beginning to establish themselves and they are finding their own relationships with companies both within and outside of Italy. Some with companies that have employed many of the great designers of the past such as Alessi's constant search for and nurturing of new talent, as well as Segis' own products, many now designed by the daughter of Carlo Bartoli as well as other younger designers. Others are working with new companies and working with them in new ways, such as many of the young designers producing work with Industriale. The fact that standout talents with a level of fame similar to the maestri have yet to be seen doesn't mean they don't exist or won't become known.

On Sustainability

Sustainable manufacturing is possible while still remaining profitable and is indeed essential for any company or manufacturer who is intending to operate successfully over the long term. The scale and volume of resources that are used and consumed in the manufacture of furniture and other objects is too large for us to be able to afford to waste any of due to poor or inefficient practices and processes. Additionally, to allow oneself to use materials that are potentially harmful in order to save money in the short term will have effects down the line that can end up harming far more than just the success of a company.
The focus upon quality and sustainability in Italy/Tuscany/Segis comes in part as a result of the fact that the people of the country remain surrounded by their culture and cultural history. This has an effect in many ways and at many levels, some of which are described by Franco Dominici during the interview while others can be found in our interviews with Paolo Rizato and others. In the case of Tuscany and Segis in particular though this cultural history is enhanced by the lack of damage and destruction that was faced by many of the other parts of Italy which has led to a much more unbroken line of local histories as well as a preservation of knowledges, values, and methods that come together in a way that often results in quality, both as a result of the continuance of the teaching of skills and ideas within the region's culture while also resulting in a greater awareness of the long-term and the potential effects that ideas, acts and construction can have.

Video/Key Quotes

What We Learned

Segis and Franco Dominici serve as an example and a model of what an innovative and sustainable manufacturer can be and also gives us an insight into what is possible when new ideas and new design thinking is blended with old skills and a culture of quality. Mr. Dominici showed us that while great design and great ideas are necessary and valuable they must always also take the people who will be making and using the results of these designs Into account. A great idea and a beautiful form will come to nothing if the quality of the resulting piece is not high enough, or if the form and idea do not work for the people who will use them..