In this eighth episode of Designers in Dialogue, we are delighted to spotlight Edward Yedid, partner of GRADE New York, an agency driven by a resolutely contemporary vision at the intersection of architecture and interior design. For over twenty years, Edward and Founding Partner Thomas Hickey have been shaping spaces that harmonize precision and sensitivity, balance and materiality, art of living and functionality.
Edward, your company is based in New York, you’ve worked with both our Lyon and New York workrooms, what did you think of these collaborations?
Yes, we’re based in New York, but as you know, we work on projects all over the world with Jouffre and our collaborations have been great. I don’t really separate the two workrooms, I see it all as one big team, especially because you’re collaborating across both locations. Of course, some designs are better suited to the Lyon workrooms and others to the one in New York.
Take the Shell Chair for example, the wood shell was made in Lyon, but the upholstery was done in New York. That kind of cross-collaboration was key when it came to sit tests and fine-tuning the details. The result was a beautifully crafted chair that we’ve been able to reproduce in different variations.
Could you tell us about the development of collector’s items with Jouffre, like the Shell Chair?
That started in 2020. Talking with the team, it felt like it was time, we’d been creating custom pieces for our interiors for years, but they were always one-offs, tied to specific projects. So, we sat down with our creative director and interior designers and decided to imagine a collection. The goal was to design pieces that speak to each other with a common language, so that even though each design is unique, they feel like they belong together.
We landed on the idea of materiality, how different materials come together in complex ways but feel effortless. Of course, it’s not effortless at all, it takes a lot of back and forth to achieve that effect, but that’s what makes the process exciting.
For the Shell Chair, color matching was tricky because we weren’t able to see it in person until it arrived in New York. But in the end, it turned out beautifully. After the sit test, we made only a few more small tweaks. Your team really understands comfort, which is crucial. Since then, we’ve made several versions, and our clients love them. In fact, we’ve had people reach out just from seeing photos of the Shell Chair online, and we’ve sold pieces directly to the public, which is an entirely new direction for us as we initially developed this piece for our interior design clients.
You also developed complex pieces like the Frame Sofa with Jouffre. What were the challenges?
The biggest challenge with the Frame Sofa was that the structure had to hold the sofa in a way that made it look like it was floating. It was originally designed for a space surrounded by windows, you could walk around the piece entirely, so every side, including the back, needed to be as beautiful as the front. We added a beveled edge detail to the frame for refinement, but the real question was: How do we make the sofa body feel like it’s being held within the frame? It was a complex engineering issue, and we worked closely with the Jouffre team to figure it out, but the solution is a secret we’ll have to keep to ourselves!
We also did a version for a beach house in New Jersey. There, the brief was more relaxed, the client wanted a true lounging experience. So, we modified the design: added loose back cushions, increased the seat depth, and gave it a more casual, summer feel. That’s what we love about our designs, they can evolve to reflect each project and the way our clients live.
What project had the biggest impact on your career with Thomas?
Honestly, I don’t think it’s about just one project. For us, it’s about the body of work and the client experience we create across the board. Of course, great design matters, but what really helps us grow is how we take care of our clients. That’s where Jouffre comes in. Working with a team like yours means we know the end product will be excellent. And if something doesn’t go exactly as planned, we know you’ll fly in, help fix it, and find solutions. That reliability is huge. Together, we’ve built a reputation not just for design, but for being there for our clients. And that’s what keeps new projects coming, many of our clients recommend us to others.
So, for me, it’s not about one standout project, it’s the people we work with, our internal team, and partners like you, who make it all happen. It’s always a challenge, but we’re proud of the results. And the goal is always to shield the client from the stressful parts, they just need to know it’ll be taken care of. That’s why we come back to Jouffre again and again.
What role does sustainability play in your practice? Are your clients asking more about it?
In high-end design, sustainability is more of a topic on the building side of things. When it comes to furniture, it’s more about durability and practicality, especially for families with kids. Sometimes clients ask about performance fabrics, stain resistance, things like that. But in the end, the focus tends to be: Is it beautiful, comfortable, and built to last?
What is the project created with Jouffre you are the most proud of?
What I’m most proud of is our ability to work together on projects where every detail — the conditions, the millwork, the way fabrics interact with wood — is always new. We never repeat ourselves. Whether it’s a leather-wrapped shelf, upholstered walls, or even carpets used as wall coverings, every challenge pushes us to find creative solutions.
For our Miami project, for instance, wall upholstery proved challenging. We had to develop a custom detail to secure and refine the edges of a textural grass cloth which was woven to the exact size of the wall panels. Sometimes, unexpected issues arise during the process, requiring innovative solutions, and that’s what makes this work so exciting.
Jouffre has been involved in many of our projects over the past five years, and I truly love each one of them. What sets our design approach apart is that we never like to repeat ourselves. We constantly challenge ourselves to create something new with every project.
This ability to face new challenges together and to successfully bring each project to life is what I appreciate most. We’ve worked on so many projects that it’s difficult to choose a favorite, but what I love is that we never replicate the same design or approach twice. Repetition would be boring, and I enjoy pushing boundaries and challenging both ourselves and our teams. Fortunately, we have incredible clients who embrace this approach and trust us to bring their visions to life. My team loves working with Jouffre, and it really feels like a family.