The answer came when we realized that furniture hasn’t quite followed the evolution of us. We look at magazines thats sells 10 foot long dining table while condos and apartments get smaller and smaller. We pay big bucks for gadgety furniture that fold in half while being a bed, a sofa and a desk at the same time but it is really difficult to find well design simple furniture whose proportions fits smaller spaces. We pretend to buy local but relish when we have to pay what its really worth because we have become used to pay 29,99$ for a coffee table. And we, as designers, tend to design stuff following strict principles but does it really ring a bell for consumers, users? All of this made the choice of our company name quite obvious : it would have to challenge received ideas while interest in ways of using things would be place at the forefront of what we do. In french Us & Coutumes means usage and customs. It does sound pretty traditional and that is perfect like that because we intend to be just the opposite : unconventional and open to change.
Welcome to Us & Coutumes!
Vincent Cloutier
Co-founder, Industrial designer
Curious by nature, Vincent Cloutier is the industrial designer and responsible for communications at Us & Coutumes. His experience in retail et furniture design are a major asset in developing new products and bringing ideas to the market.
Jean Darveau
Co-founder, technical director
Jean Darveau is what you could call a jack of all trades. He is our technical expert and production manager at Us & Coutumes. He’s also an important part of products design and development as well as in our constant research for new ideas and fabrication processes.
