Sharing the values behind the products

It is not easy nowadays to tell the values behind design projects. In an increasingly fast-paced and chaotic world, stopping to understand what really matters in what we do has become almost impossible. Beyond the final product, there are many design companies that operate responsibly, thinking about the sustainability of their processes and transparency towards people. These brands aim to have a positive impact on the environment and society, and not just look at profit margins.
Following the abrupt stop linked to the pandemic, we launched the Domus for Design editorial initiative, conceived as a virtual living room to narrate calmly and in depth the realities that define Made in Italy today. One of the most virtuous examples on the Italian scene is undoubtedly CEDIT - Ceramiche d'Italia, a brand of the Florim group relaunched in 2016 on the international design scene, whose work combines sustainability, innovation and experimentation.

Since the second half of the twentieth century, CEDIT has been the protagonist of an extraordinary season of material and stylistic experimentation, exploring and defining new ways of expressing the culture of living, linking its name to the most prestigious names in Italian art, architecture and design. We are talking about figures such as Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Ettore Sottsass, Enzo Mari, Alessandro Mendini and many others. Today CEDIT retains its artisan flavour and evolves its expressiveness thanks to the services offered by new technologies and the contribution of great names of our time such as Elena Salmistraro, Formafantasma, Federico Pepe, Cristina Celestino, Zaven and many others. The five key words that describe the CEDIT brand fit perfectly into the broader strategy of Florim, the ceramic surfaces company that recently took another big step forward by changing its statute into a Benefit Society and obtaining the prestigious B Corp certification - thus joining the ranks of companies that include in their corporate purpose, in addition to profit objectives, the aim of having a positive impact on society and the biosphere.

Some excerpts from the manifesto:
Culture: Every CEDIT product is to be understood as a vector of knowledge, as a tool for promoting concepts and content and, ultimately, as a cultural device.
Ethics: CEDIT is committed to combining its product offerings with a commitment to responsible operating practices.
Design: CEDIT has always believed in research, design and experimentation as crucial tools for defining and achieving unequivocal quality.
Identity: CEDIT respects the history that has defined its identity, from its origins to the present day.
Talent: CEDIT has faith in the creative talent that has always been inherent in the art of Italian manufacturing. Is it possible to condense a 60-year history into less than two minutes? Of course not. But the video presented is just an open door that allows us to discover the fascinating world of CEDIT.

Cover image: Elena Salmistraro, Chimera, Spazio CEDIT, Milan