One Spicy Margarita with Henry Julier

The industrial designer shares his one-sentence design philosophy, the everyday item he'd reimagine and more on his global USM collaboration.

Woven Structures is a home objects collection created by Henry Julier for USM Modular Furniture. Illustration by Tim Le

Industrial designer Henry Julier is breaking the code of USM Modular Furniture’s system. After overseeing industrial design at Standard Issue for 12 years, Julier left the Brooklyn-based design consultancy early this year to pursue freelance projects.

His latest, debuting tomorrow at a new design fair called Shelter by Afternoon Light, is a 10-piece collaboration with USM called Woven Structures. The collection features tables, chairs and trays — a divergence from USM’s focus on storage — and incorporates a new material, Danish paper cord, into the company’s design universe. Woven Structures will be available globally through USM showrooms and authorized international dealers.

CSJ caught up with Julier over a spicy margarita at DAE. Read our Q&A below.

Where are you from originally?

I grew up in New Haven, Connecticut. Technically, Hamden, but we mostly did Yale-related stuff. My mom went to Yale and she ended up working there.

What’s your favorite neighborhood spot?

It might be a tie between Brooklyn Social and Caputo’s. I have said to more than a few people that my deathbed meal is the ball of fresh mozzarella from Caputo’s. Brooklyn Social, it’s always been there. It’s exactly what you want out of a bar. They’re really friendly, and it has stood the test of time.

Design philosophy in one sentence.

Less, but better, but not too serious.