Once upon a time there was Idée Fixe…

THE BEGINNING…

Freshly graduated in Technical Drawing, Franck Seigneul quickly landed a job at the SABATHE events agency, halfway between sales and creative design. He spent four formative years there before making a bold decision: at the age of 24, he decided to go freelance and became a subcontractor for the same agency.

It was during this period that he heard about Jacques Brault, ten years his senior, who stood out for his skills in 3D modelling and creating scale models. They hit it off immediately. Within a few days, their partnership was sealed, and on 1 February 1990, Idée Fixe was officially launched in Normandy.

As for the name ‘Idée Fixe’? Officially, it is simple, catchy and easy to remember. Unofficially… it was apparently found during a party. Legend has it that the employee responsible for registering the company remembered this original name perfectly among all the files she was processing.

Why set up the company in Saint-Hilaire-du-Harcouët, France while working with Parisian agencies? For Franck, it’s obvious: a return to his roots, in his native region.

Little by little, Idée Fixe found its rhythm. Parisian agencies called on them to design stands and fittings. The scale models, carefully transported in a custom-made crate, travelled across France in the cab of a lorry driver to arrive every Monday morning at a Parisian office.

Franck is gradually expanding the client portfolio. The company is emerging from the shadows and beginning to sign projects under its own name.

In September 1990, the first employee joined the adventure. Regional clients, such as Maé Agencement, enriched the layout design aspect of the business. As for the manufacture of stands, this was carried out in Jacques’ garage, who was responsible for all technical and carpentry aspects.

During the 1990s, Idée Fixe moved three times. The offices left the city centre and moved to Les Îles, then to the Zone Artisanale, where the team finally had a proper workshop. The number of carpenters grew, and friends regularly came to lend a hand.

From the outset, a first Parisian office was opened near the Champs-Élysées, facilitating business meetings and strengthening the company’s presence in the capital.

2001 ; ARRIVAL IN ST-PAIR-SUR-MER

Why not set up the offices and workshop by the sea? This is the question Jacques and Franck asked their ten employees as part of a collective approach. The choice was obvious: combine quality of life on the coast with keeping the existing teams in place.

Over the years, the team has grown and developed, and now has 40 employees spread across Saint-Pair-sur-Mer, Nantes and Paris’s 15th arrondissement.

In 2003, Franck Picot joined the adventure, followed in 2012 by Jean-Michel Hillmeyer. Together, they form a complementary trio that still runs the company today.

Jacques, co-founder, retired in 2013.

What is Idée Fixe’s real strength? Knowing how to capitalise on complementary talents. Because while we may go faster alone, together we go further.

‘I am proud to see that the story continues and that the family DNA of the company remains intact. The next ten years will be decisive for me. I will know when to stop at the right time, without overstaying my welcome,’ concludes Franck Seigneul.

THE IDEE FIXE TRIBE

Here are the faces behind Idée Fixe on a daily basis: salespeople, creatives, technicians, carpenters, logisticians… and all the support staff without whom none of this would be possible.

Since 1990, this wonderful collective adventure has been driving us forward… and this is only the beginning.

For more information, read our agency page.