From a very young age, Domen was interested in anything practical - car mechanics, blacksmithing, engineering, electronics, carpentry, botany... After high school (electronics and computer science), he joined the army, drawn by the slogan "nature is your office", where he studied architecture for five years during his time in the army. In the army, he quickly realised that, although it was an interesting experience, it was definitely not going to be his career path.
He gained a lot of experience in architectural offices and as a construction worker. He even lived in Ukraine for three years, where he supervised a major investment project.
But he couldn't take any more designing in the office... He felt he had to move on. He wants to create something more concrete. With more creativity. With a better sense of what he has created with his own hands, with his own ideas. But above all, he needed - more freedom.
In all this creativity, he had already tried his hand at carpentry during his studies. But in 2016, a very special idea was born... It started with a simple assignment: 'Design a flatpack piece of furniture', in the interior design course at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transport Engineering and Architecture (FGPA) in Maribor. It was the spark that ignited an unstoppable flame - a passion for making furniture that is both unique and sustainable.
He has made designer furniture from plywood that assembles without glue or screws. Its modular structure also makes it easy to repair. Given the growing awareness of humanity's impact on the environment, plywood seems to be one of the important materials in this sector. Domen expects to get certified materials soon - so that it is recorded where it was cut, who cut it, who processed it into plywood. The plywood processing itself is waste-free and the material can be maximised. Furthermore, it uses natural pigments and oils.
"Interesting design is at the heart of my philosophy. I try not to follow trends, but to experiment with the possibilities of birch plywood and push the boundaries of conventional furniture design to create unique and charming pieces." He has done this brilliantly.
So far, she has six pieces of furniture based on this concept, each with its own story and original names.
Backrest The Pipesmoker (a comfortable and elegant armchair whose design and comfort invite relaxation and in-depth discussions), a table The Moonlander (with a complex structure reminiscent of a lunar lander, inviting in-depth exploration), a table The Sleepwalker (a table that seems to float around the room, evoking the mystery and lightness of a dream), a bench The Doorman (a reminder to slow down, appreciate the present and connect to the rhythm of life), table The Clouddancer (an abstract composition resembling a uniquely shaped cloud formation) and a tablecloth Mr. Shamrli.
"Shamrli. That's what we call pručki in Styrian. I want to pay some tribute to this heritage of the pručka." Mr. Shamrli is thus inspired by a centuries-old design that has graced the homes of royalty and commoners alike, and carries on a legacy of timeless functionality.
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"Skilful design is not only an aesthetic, but also a whisper of possibility, a puzzle crying out for a solution, a form that challenges function in a way that arouses curiosity". Domen explains poetically.
Is the furniture solid and stable? "It is. I made the first prototype of the console table in 2016 - nothing has bent yet."
The English-language website shows that it is targeting a global market. What is the vision for the future? "I would like to do smaller modular living units, not just furniture. But I will definitely stay in wood, alongside architecture, and keep my options open for all materials that are sustainable."
But she also says very honestly: "I want to create, I want to live out my creativity. But I want to put all the business and the management of the company away from me. My most powerful role is to - create." You can feel when you shake his hand that these are working hands, like the hands of the masters in the workshops. It is in this creation that Domen has found both talent and a great interest.
How do you start when you have no home base, no workshop to use, no investment... How do you even start something where you need machines, materials, workshop space and capital for the first pieces? Domen can tell you first-hand: "If you don't already have the possibility to create in the real world, today you can already create a lot of things in the virtual world. It's true that you can't test a concept yet, but you can still be creative. I didn't have a prototype for a very long time, but I did a lot of it in 3D drawing software. Then I just put the final version I had chosen into the first prototype. I didn't need 10k for a workshop and the first machines to do it. But there are different ways to do it... You take what's available to you. The main thing is that you do something, you don't just have an idea in your head."
He also offers a word of advice to all very young creators: "Start as early as possible, youth offers a priceless opportunity for experimentation. Without burdens such as utility bills, or the daily worries and commitments that come with years and work, most young people still have the support of their home environment..."
Domen is one of those acrobats who never runs out of ideas and interests. "Lots of interest, not enough time", he briefly confirms.
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