INTERVIEW WITH IVANO VIGANÒ

The MAG - 06.23

By Cristina Morozzi

Interview with Ivano Viganò, son of the founder of Viganò&C, a manufacturer of office furniture.

Viganò&C, located in Verano Brianza, has been in the business of crafting office furniture since 1961. Ivano Viganò, the founder's son who began the company as an upholsterer, shared his insights with us. He stated that creating office furniture is a challenging task because it must endure prolonged use for at least 8 hours a day. As a result, it is imperative to design and produce long-lasting products.

CM:
The relationship between aesthetics and ergonomics?

IV:
When it comes to office seating, it's important to prioritize functionality over looks. While aesthetics are nice, comfort is absolutely essential. Achieving a beautiful design is relatively straightforward, but ensuring that the seating is comfortable requires careful consideration of ergonomics and technique. The challenge lies in finding a balance between aesthetics and comfort.

CM:
What can be other requirements?

IV:
When choosing coatings for seats, careful consideration is necessary. Currently, elastic meshes are popular for backrests because they provide breathability. It's important to also consider noise absorption when selecting coverings. To ensure comfort, devices for adjusting seat height and armrests should be installed. We recommend clients try out the seats for at least two days, as five minutes isn't enough time to accurately assess their ergonomics and comfort.

CM:
Is the design of the collections entrusted to internal designers of the company, or to external collaborators?

IV:
For a while now, we have been working together with Basaglia Nota Rodari architects and Paolo and Folco Orlandini, designers of the Jolie seat. This versatile seat is perfect for both home and office use.

CM:
What are the qualities of a good office chair?

IV:
We prioritize technology, comfort, price, progressive evolution, and color in our products. Over the course of four years,                Swivel Office Chair with Wheels JOLIE by Viganò
we have gone against the norm and implemented bolder and brighter
colors in our paintwork. However, coordinating these bright colors takes
extra attention to detail. We offer a color chart with 250 standard colors
to choose from.

CM:
The materials?

IV:
Leathers, technical, resistant and fireproof fabrics

CM:
Post-Covid?

IV:
Customers not only require technical and ergonomic specifications, but also value sobriety, comfort, and aesthetics in their products.                                  

CM:
What are your thoughts and predictions after returning to                                Bar Table JACK by Viganò                                                        Salone del Mobile after two years?

IV:
We had a strong desire to start fresh and thankfully, we were able to do so. Our clients were grateful for our efforts and bravery, and some even went as far as to call us heroes. Our passion motivates us to keep pushing forward, and we don't solely focus on the numbers. We invest in research and innovation because we truly love what we do.