Henry Julier Gives the USM Haller System a Warm Touch of Craft
Using Danish paper cord woven in Maine, the NYC-based industrial designer introduces a soft contrast to USM’s chrome hardware.
Summary
- Comprising 10 designs, Henry Julier’s Woven Structures collection combines the warmth of Danish paper cord with USM’s classic chrome hardware.
- Originally unveiled in May at NYCxDesign, the collection is available now at the USM website and showrooms.
From Armando Cabral to Buchanan Studio, USM Modular Furniture continues to expand the scope of its highly recognizable design system through the eyes of global design talents. Among the most recent collaborations is Woven Structures by industrial designer Henry Julier, who introduced an all-new materiality to the system for his collection, unveiled during NYCxDesign in mid-May.
Woven by hand in Maine, Julier incorporated Danish paper cord panels into the USM Haller system, shifting the brand’s typical focus from color to texture. USM’s sleek chrome frame offers a gentle contrast to the traditional textile work, which has parallels in various cultural traditions across the globe. The striking balance between industrial precision and handcrafted detail adds a deeply human element to USM’s modular logic.
As former Industrial Design Director at Standard Issue for 12 years, Julier holds a deep interest in design history that informs the familiar effect of his USM collection. The combination of industrial materials and natural elements, like paper cord, was often used by the designers of the Bauhaus design movement in the early 20th century. The echo of Breuer‘s cane Cesca chair, which utilized a similar tubular steel frame, is just one of the many parallels that can be drawn.
Woven Structures comprises ten pieces, including the WS Chair, WS Bench, WS Stool, WS Sidetable, WS Split-Level Table, WS Nesting Tables, and the WS Low and High Trays. Some designs, including the WS Side Table, WS Stool, and WS Bench, can be further customized with USM panels for added functionality and color choice.
Originally debuted at the inaugural edition of SHELTER during New York Design Week, the Woven Structures installation is on view at USM Modular Furniture‘s New York showroom.
