Jean-Jacques L'Henaff

The LIXIL Water Experience Center on Fifth Avenue in New York City is more than a showroom—it’s a carefully realized vision of what a modern design hub can be. After two years spent searching for the right location, followed by a year of planning and design and another of construction, the space officially opened on February 5, 2025, bringing American Standard, GROHE, DXV, and INAX together under one roof.

From the outset, the ambition was clear: not just to create a beautiful showroom, but to build a living, breathing hub for the architecture and design community, as well as customers, partners, and investors. That intention shaped every detail—from the spatial layout to the programming strategy—resulting in a dynamic environment designed for constant interaction and evolution.

The ground floor embodies this philosophy with an open, flexible layout. A lounge and bar anchor the space, while modular displays can be reconfigured for product launches or events. A dramatic 20-foot ceiling features a water-inspired metal “river,” and a massive 15-by-13-foot screen transforms the room from presentation venue to movie night setting. Movable gallery-style light boxes and a central collaborative table further reinforce the idea of adaptability and shared creativity.

Downstairs, the experience becomes more immersive. Products are organized in a “brand alley,” where each brand is brought to life through curated vignettes. Two live demonstration zones—one for showers and one for kitchens—allow visitors to engage directly with the products, bridging the gap between concept and real-world use.

Like many ambitious projects in New York, construction came with its share of challenges—particularly within a landmark building—but the team navigated them successfully, delivering the space just in time for its debut event.

And what followed validated the original vision. In its first year, the center hosted a wide range of programming: from opening night celebrations and NYCxDesign to industry gatherings like IDSA and ICFF, the Bronze Apple Awards, a fashion show with Christian Siriano, quarterly Ciné Nights with ADFF, Dwell events, DMI and IFDA talks, Metropolis sustainability discussions, executive dinners, and ongoing trainings and client meetings. The space didn’t just function—it thrived.

Ultimately, the LIXIL Water Experience Center stands as proof that a showroom can be something more: a platform for ideas, collaboration, and community. The concept held strong, the execution delivered, and the results speak for themselves—setting the stage for an even more dynamic year ahead.

Challenge:

Engage with multiple constituencies over and over again

Solution:

A striking, flexible event and exhibit space with reconfigurable product displays and brand experience

Year:

2022-2025

Project Team:

Joseph Magee, Malherbe (Paris), Big Red Rooster (NYC), Rodolfo Agrella / RADS, Carina Bhulert, Daphné Haelfiger, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

ICFF, which takes place during NYCxDesign—New York’s premier design week—is one of the most influential interior design trade events of the year. When Grohe chose to exhibit in 2024, the guiding question was clear: how do we truly stand apart?

The answer was to rethink the very idea of a trade show exhibit. Instead of focusing on product display, we created an immersive brand experience—one driven by content, conversation, and connection. The space became a vibrant hub for dialogue and collaboration, animated by a dynamic program of talks, panel discussions, trend workshops, and presentations.

Now in its third year, the Grohe Water Studio has established itself as a cornerstone of the show floor—consistently drawing audiences beyond its capacity. It stands as a powerful complement to the programming at the LIXIL Water Experience Center, together enriching the energy and impact of this annual celebration of design in New York City.

Challenge:

Stand out during the premier trade event of the year

Solution:

A no-product/all content space that draws crowds

Year:

2024, 2025

Project Team:

Irina Briller, Carina Buller, Dave Boer, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

As workplaces evolve in a post-COVID world, design has become a visible reflection of shifting values—blending new aesthetics, ethics, and ways of working. At LIXIL’s redesigned headquarters in Piscataway, this transformation is expressed through a thoughtful environment that shapes how employees interact, collaborate, and focus.

Completed in 2021–22, the 65,000-square-foot space reimagines the workplace as a balanced “home” for employees—integrating formal and informal settings, individual focus areas, and collaborative zones. Workstations line the perimeter for natural light, while lounges, meeting rooms, and amenity hubs—including kitchens and contactless restrooms—support both flexibility and well-being.

Exhibit spaces in a variety of formats were thoughtfully integrated throughout the office to reconnect employees with the products they bring to market, making the company’s work more tangible and visible in everyday experience. Complementing this, an art program centered on diversity, community, and sustainability was introduced, reinforcing shared values and fostering a deeper cultural connection within the workplace.

The design emphasizes adaptability and connection, encouraging spontaneous collaboration without sacrificing privacy. Socially conscious artwork and product displays further reinforce the company’s mission and impact.

Sustainability and comfort are central to the experience, with LED lighting, sensor-based systems, LEED-certified materials, and warm, textured finishes creating a welcoming, less corporate atmosphere.

Ultimately, the space reflects LIXIL’s commitment to inclusivity, innovation, and responsibility—empowering employees through a workplace designed for both performance and equity.

Year:

2021-22

Project Team:

GENSLER, Joseph Magee, Kibok Song, Julia Arieno, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

Spectra Loop — Smarter Water Use, Better Experience

According to EPA data and recent reports, water restrictions are now active—at varying levels—in at least 16 U.S. states, a number that rose to impact nearly half the country in early 2026. As water scarcity becomes a growing reality, reducing consumption is no longer optional—it’s essential.

In the bathroom, the showerhead is the single largest water user, typically flowing at 2.5 gallons per minute. While lowering flow rates may seem like an obvious solution, it often comes at a cost. Reduced flow can significantly impact the user experience—especially for those with longer hair—leading to longer rinse times, increased water use, and frustration.

So: how might we reduce water consumption without compromising performance?

The answer lies not only in how much water we use—but in when and how it is used.

In most homes, the daily routine is familiar: turn on the shower, walk away to brush teeth or get ready, then return once the water is warm. During this time, gallons of cold water are wasted as hot water travels through the pipes—this is known as Structural Waste. Even after the water reaches temperature, additional waste occurs while the user finishes other tasks—this is Behavioral Waste.

Spectra Loop addresses both.

As a point-of-use recirculating pump with an intuitive interface, Spectra Loop warms the water exactly when needed—without waste. It circulates water within the system until the desired temperature is reached, eliminating the need to let the shower run. The result: savings of up to 10 gallons of water per shower, without sacrificing comfort or performance.

Designed to fit seamlessly into daily routines, Spectra Loop can even be programed to sync with a phone alarm—ensuring your shower is ready when you are.

Because sustainability is hard to accept when it comes at the expense of experience.

Real innovation starts with observation, not opinion: Grounding innovation in human behavior

1.) A structured human-centric approach to innovation recognizes a fundamental truth: people are often poor at predicting their own future behaviors and rarely articulate what they truly need when asked directly. Instead of relying solely on stated preferences, this approach prioritizes observation—carefully studying real behaviors, contexts, and workarounds to uncover latent pain points and unmet needs.

These observations are translated into meaningful insights that go beyond surface-level feedback. At its core, this process builds deeper connections between users and products or services, ensuring that innovation is not only novel, but genuinely relevant and valuable in people’s everyday lives.

Design serves as the voice of the consumer—interpreting human needs, challenging assumptions, and guiding decision-making toward solutions that resonate in real-world contexts.

This approach is inherently multidisciplinary. It combines:

in-context observation,

user interviews,

expert perspectives,

input from trend and strategy specialists,

and structured brainstorming and co-creation sessions.

Together, these elements form a rigorous yet creative system that transforms insights into actionable ideas.

To be effective, observation requires both humility and discipline: humility to set aside assumptions and see reality as it is, and a structured process to ensure that what is observed is systematically captured, interpreted, and translated into innovation.

2.) Trends

Innovation does not happen in isolation. It unfolds within a constantly evolving cultural, technological, and economic context. By systematically studying the world around us, we identify and interpret macro trends as well as emerging design directions, anticipating the environments in which future products and services will exist.

This perspective is developed through multiple inputs, including attendance at major international trade and design shows, continuous dialogue with industry experts and customers, and collaboration with trend and strategy consultants. Together, these inputs provide a forward-looking lens that ensures innovation is both timely and contextually relevant.

3.) Brand

Any successful innovation must be meaningful to its audience—whether users, installers, or specifiers—and at the same time remain deeply aligned with the brand. It should express brand values not only in form, but also in interaction and in the value it delivers.

In this way, innovation becomes a tangible extension of the brand, reinforcing identity while ensuring coherence across every touchpoint.

4.) Impact

Every innovation has consequences that extend beyond its immediate use. It affects how we live, the environments we inhabit, the communities we serve, and the people involved in production.

By evaluating impact early in the innovation process, we can actively shape outcomes—minimizing negative effects and, wherever possible, creating positive contributions. This ensures that innovation is not only effective and desirable, but also responsible and future-conscious.

Customization and personalization have been leading trends in industries from apparel to home products for over a decade—but making them both meaningful and scalable remains a challenge.

At its best, personalization goes beyond options to tell a story, bridging craft and technology. The DXV 3D-printed faucet collection—the first of its kind—combines advanced manufacturing with a hand-applied “butler finish,” creating a subtle patina reminiscent of silverware polished over decades. This human touch brings warmth and depth to a highly technical object, elevating it into a truly unique expression of luxury.

Personalization can also be a platform for cultural storytelling. Within the DXV Craft collection, a dedicated design element enables personalization—originally for high-end hospitality, but later expanded into a craft series inspired by global traditions, from Portuguese azulejo to Japanese kintsugi and French matelassé.

At a simpler level, DXV products are designed with a thoughtful part breakdown that allows for mix-and-match finishes over time. This creates a more accessible form of personalization—offering flexibility and longevity while remaining mindful of cost.

In this way, personalization evolves from a feature into an experience—connecting people not just to a product, but to a story, a craft, and a lasting value.

Meaningful design

Our daily challenge at American Standard is to imagine the needs of the home. Through design awareness, we improve life and reinforce our presence in the home as a constant, reliable, warm, and purposeful environment drawn from an aesthetic that stimulates the emotions reflected in our brand language.

Ethnographic research helps guide our insight as we solve real-life human challenges observed in our most private environments. This user-centric approach, coupled with world-leading technology, generates products that please, and improve comfort and human wellbeing. Our brand language determines how we reason the design of our products, but the promise of a user-centric approach guarantees that the user is fundamentally at the core of what we do.

To represent the purest expression of our brand values, to maintain consistency and homogeneity in our design approach, and to provide an unfailing sanctuary for our users, we created a collection of products that the design team will use to imagine and align all future products in years to come.

This synthesis is proudly called, The Reference Line.

Communication

To communicate the new direction embodied in the Reference Line both internally and externally, we published a book that explains how we translated our brand message into shapes and forms. It explains how we took our brand values and expressed them through a unique collection of semantic – Dependable, Inviting and Pioneering – and ultimately through three specific shapes called Signature Elements that makes our products more recognizable and build brand equity right into them.

We also created a long-term exhibit in our new headquarter to bring all Lixil employees close to the products, and executed a communication strategy that leveraged Social Media, TV programing and trade show exhibits.

Year:

2021

Design Team:

Jacob Nitz, Greg Reinecker, Alison Lyons, Kibok Song, Andrew Jager, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

The American Standard Aspirations Collection was designed with young families in mind—balancing everyday practicality with thoughtful innovation. It also marks the first collection developed following the introduction of the brand’s 2021 Reference Line, bringing its design language to life in a complete, cohesive offering.

Fittings

Beyond traditional single-lever and widespread faucets, the collection introduces intuitive, user-friendly features designed for real-life routines. Pull-down and pull-out options make everyday tasks—like rinsing the lavatory after shaving—simpler and more efficient. A compact, ADA-compliant faucet expands accessibility for a wider range of projects. Most notably, the reimagined tub spout transforms a common hazard for young children into a point of comfort: delivering a soft, waterfall flow while integrating a functional shelf for shampoo bottles or a convenient footrest.

Fixtures

The collection extends this thinking into the bath space. A three-sided bathtub offers the visual appeal of a freestanding tub while adapting to space constraints. The alcove tub features a generous ledge—ideal for bathing a child or providing a stable, seated transition into the tub, improving safety and comfort. The integrated apron includes discreet, deeper storage for toys or cleaning essentials.

Bath and shower walls are enhanced with an adjustable shelving system that installs easily between studs, combining flexibility with simplicity. Completing the offering, the 0.8 gpf toilet sets a new benchmark in water efficiency without compromising performance.

Kitchen

Designed with performance at its core, the Aspirations kitchen faucet adapts seamlessly to a wide range of tasks. Its three spray modes—aerated, power, and mist—deliver precise control, from gentle rinsing to heavy-duty cleaning. This versatility ensures optimal performance at the sink, making everyday kitchen activities more efficient and intuitive.

The Aspirations Collection embodies the core values of American Standard—Dependable, Inviting, and Pioneering—in a complete solution designed to simplify and elevate everyday life for modern families.

Bringing global consistency to the American Standard brand expression.

For almost 150 years, American Standard has been in the heart of people’s homes, helping them create functional and aesthetically pleasing kitchens and bathrooms along the way. While the brand has sharpened its focus on performance, it needed to deepen its emotional connections to the people it served. The branding evolution presented in this guide is a continuation of this renewed focus on the American Standard consumers, initiated in 2018 with the “Love, American Standard” campaign. It’s a reflection of a transformation, as well as, the reflections of the changes in the marketplace and in consumer behavior.

Historically the American Standard brand has been expressed differently in various parts of the world which can be confusing, and a lost opportunity to capture and drive brand equity.

Therefore, this guide is the critical starting point in elevating the American Standard brand consistently across the digital and physical, enhancing the consumer experiences, and driving the brand forward in a meaningful and valuable way.

Year:

2022

Design Team:

Andrew Jäger, Ted Deitert, Kibok Song, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

Showering Product Portfolio — SPECTRA

In 2016, American Standard held only a modest share of the approximately $800M U.S. showering market. The category showed limited differentiation, and meaningful innovation had been largely absent for over a decade.

The SPECTRA showering line was created to reframe this experience—grounded in the American Standard belief that better design should make everyday life easier, more comfortable, and more accessible for everyone. Built on two years of in-depth user research and real-world observation, each product addresses specific needs within daily showering routines, delivering practical innovation with lasting value.

Today, the SPECTRA line represents 35% of shower category sales within two years of launch, contributing significantly to 22% annual category growth—demonstrating strong consumer relevance and category impact.

SPECTRA DUO™ brings simplicity and versatility to everyday showering.

Intuitively designed spray options, including a gentle spray for children and families, and a blade spray for effective rinsing and cleaning

Ease of use through ambidextrous controls and an intuitive diverter system with touch or click operation

A straightforward upgrade experience, designed for simple installation and immediate benefit

SPECTRA eTOUCH™ addresses a common but often overlooked challenge: many users cannot comfortably reach the showerhead to change settings during use.

By bringing control within easy reach—either through a touch interface on the showerhead or a conveniently placed wall-mounted switch—it improves accessibility and comfort for a wider range of users, supporting a more inclusive showering experience.

SPECTRA VERSA™ is a simple, retrofit showering solution designed to upgrade existing bathrooms without the need for full renovation.

Attaching directly to an existing water supply line, it provides an easy path to enhanced functionality by combining both a rain showerhead and a hand shower in one integrated system. This dual-format experience offers users greater flexibility—whether for immersive overhead showering or precise, handheld control—while maintaining straightforward installation and compatibility with existing setups.

SPECTRA LOOP™ reflects American Standard’s commitment to performance and responsible water use.

It rethinks traditional shower systems by eliminating both structural and behavioral water waste, delivering hot water efficiently to the point of use. This ensures a consistently comfortable showering experience while significantly reducing unnecessary water consumption.

By improving system efficiency without compromising comfort, SPECTRA LOOP™ demonstrates how innovation can support both user satisfaction and environmental responsibility.

Year:

2017 - 2018

Design Team:

Greg Reinecker, Gabriela Ravassa, Brian Calember, Alison Lyons, Gabriela Ravassa, Kibok Song, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

Electronic Kitchen Faucet Innovation

Ten years after the introduction of the original electronic kitchen faucet, consumer trust in the category remained limited. Many users still perceived the technology as frustrating, inconsistent, and unreliable.

To better understand these perceptions, we spent time observing people in their kitchens—watching how they prepare meals and interact with water in real daily routines. These insights revealed a clear need: electronic control must feel simple, intuitive, and fully under user control.

Based on this understanding, we developed new approaches to water delivery that make interaction more natural, precise, and dependable.

BEALE SELECTRONIC™

Earlier electronic faucet systems often lacked clarity of control—either difficult to turn off or prone to accidental activation.

BEALE SELECTRONIC™ addresses this by making the technology visible, accessible, and easy to manage. The sensor is intentionally integrated into the user interface, and can be quickly disabled through a simple sliding cover, allowing the faucet to instantly return to a conventional manual mode when preferred.

The result is a more confident, flexible user experience that adapts to different levels of comfort with technology.

BEALE MEASUREFILL™

Building on the simplicity of the BEALE experience, BEALE MEASUREFILL™ introduces precise, on-demand water measurement for everyday kitchen tasks.

It is the first system of its kind to deliver accurate, pre-set volumes of water with ease. A volume control dial—integrated as a natural extension of the faucet handle—allows users to select exact quantities through a simple turn-and-click interaction.

This approach maintains a clean, intuitive design while making precision water delivery effortless and accessible in daily use.

Year:

2015 - 2018

Design Team:

Emilie Williams, Greg Reinecker, Gabriela Ravassa, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

Immerse yourself in simplicity and balance, in a personal sanctuary where the mantra "form follows function” is infused into every detail, corner and into every intention and quiet convenience. Where nothing is superfluous, where every line is honed and purposeful.

The DXV Modulus Collection is an achievement of functional elegance and breathless style that serves without sacrificing. Restraint was a constant device, informing when to replace overt complexity with hidden functionality. It offers infinite possibilities and endless configurations, in a range of materials and finishes, all from one modular and flexible system to enable you to design a space as unique as the people who use it.

Year:

2017

Design Team:

Christophe Bucher, Gabriela Ravassa, Jacob Nitz, Greg Reinecker, Margaret Monteleone, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

The Oak Hill Collection from DXV is a vintage-inspired bathroom suite that preserves the authenticity of the traditional farmhouse aesthetic by balancing the simple beauty of yesterday with the modern utility of today. Curated with care and attention to detail, every faucet, sink, toilet and tub is an exquisite example of design excellence. From the rounded curves that suggest strength and confidence to the finer points of meticulous craftsmanship, Oak Hill continues the legacy in absolute luxury.

Year:

2015

Design Team:

Christophe Bucher, Emilie Williams, Margaret Monteleone, Robert Leonetti, Emilie Williams, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

Smart Toilet Innovation — VEIL

New technology does not automatically change human behavior. And when it comes to something as personal as toileting, expectations for comfort, familiarity, and discretion are even higher.

The design of the VEIL line was guided by a clear principle: technology should not be visible for its own sake. Instead, it should disappear into the product experience, allowing the form to remain elegant, inviting, and reassuring—supporting adoption of a new category rather than imposing it.

A significant focus was placed on integrating the electronic system as low as possible within the structure, reducing the height behind the seat and maximizing user comfort and familiarity.

From this foundation, the design language was extended across multiple formats—from a freestanding toilet, to a wall-hung version, and further into a bidet seat and manual bidet seat—creating a coherent system that adapts to different levels of technological adoption and user preference.

Year:

2010 - 2012

Design Team:

Mimi Jiang, Joey Yuang, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen Sinks (SMC, SST) and Accessories

Year:

2010 - 2012

Design Team:

Thibault Poyer, Tony Cheng, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

The Kohler Aleutian Collection was designed to address the needs of multi-generation household in China’s Tier-1 cities. In such high-cost, fast pace environment, it is common to see grand parents raise their grand-children while both parents work.

After extensive ethnographic research and user testing, we developed a family of products - from bathtub to vanity to faucet - with unique features answering each generation’s needs.

Year:

2011

Design Team:

Sophie Su, Chia Ying Lee, Jason Khiang, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

“A whole new era of fixtures is here…” DesignMilk

“…meticulously modeled and crafted, techno-futurist infrastructure terminals” Metropolis Magazine

DXV 3D-Printed Faucet — Redefining Ultimate Luxury

The DXV 3D-printed faucets represent a first in the industry—combining advanced additive manufacturing with uncompromising craftsmanship to create true statement pieces for the luxury bathroom.

Produced using Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) technology, the faucets are printed in Inconel, a high-performance stainless steel alloy known for its exceptional strength, durability, and resistance to extreme conditions. This process enables a level of geometric precision and freedom previously impossible with traditional manufacturing methods.

The design team was given a deliberately open-ended brief: “design something we can’t make!” This challenge became the foundation for exploration across multiple design directions. Vibrato and Thorpe emerged as formal research studies, exploring structure, proportion, and the boundaries of manufacturable form. In parallel, Shadowbrook and Oculus investigated the shape and experience of water itself—using flow, movement, and interaction as guiding principles to shape the final expressions.

Far beyond its technical achievement, the collection embodies a new expression of luxury—where innovation, material integrity, and craftsmanship converge. Each faucet is then meticulously hand-finished, elevating its surface quality and introducing a human touch to a highly advanced object.

The result is not only a functional product, but a sculptural centerpiece—an ultimate expression of bathroom luxury where cutting-edge technology and artisanal refinement exist in perfect balance.

Year:

2014 - 2018

Design Team:

Christophe Bucher, Kye Kang, Gabriela Ravassa, Greg Reinecker, Margaret Monteleone, Priority Design, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

Acoustic Research Digital Radio Receiver

With the advent of HD (digital) radio in the early 2000s, Acoustic Research, the Cambridge, Massachusetts–based manufacturer of high-end audio equipment, set out to define a new product language for a new signal era.

As audio moved from analog to digital, the design needed to reflect this shift—clearly differentiating the next generation of receivers from conventional forms. The result was a design approach rooted in clarity, precision, and restraint.

Drawing inspiration from high-end furniture and fine watchmaking, the form language emphasizes crisp geometries and a deliberate contrast of surface finishes. Subtle transitions between materials create depth without visual noise, reinforcing a sense of control and refinement.

The outcome is a design that feels sharp, clean, and resolved—an object that mirrors the purity of the digital signal it delivers. More than a receiver, it becomes a contemporary expression of acoustic precision, where technology and design converge into a single, coherent language.

Year:

2007

Design Team:

Bill Cowles, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

The T2 line of products was designed to capture a niche in the high end consumer electronics accessories market. These connecting devices manage the TV signals from various sources and distribute them to television displays throughout the house.

Several brainstorming sessions with technology consultants, our R&D department and a outside design team, followed by targeted user interviews in three different states, lead to the original concept.

With a core team of 10, working between New York and California, and a manufacturer with facilities in Taiwan and China, we developed a line of twelve high performance products and launched a new brand in eight months.

The design team spent time with professional installers of high end residential systems and connected dozens of coax cables to experience the challenges associated with the task.

The overall  process resulted in a highly innovative line of connecting devices and amplifiers that are extremely quick to install in either a retrofit project or a new construction, ultimately providing the installers with a time-saving, quality tool to be proud of.

Extensive travel to the manufacturer’s facilities ensured that the construction and finishes of the products match their performances.

The T2 identity was consistently carried through all touch points between the brand and the user -- products, packaging, owner’s manual & advertising -- establishing T2 as a premium brand in the custom installation market.

Year:

2004

Design Team:

Bill Cowles, Stuart Reinhardt, Steve Patti, Bob Pandorf, Donald May, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

Terk Technologies — Design as a Growth Driver

In 1999, Terk Technologies was a niche, Long Island–based manufacturer of consumer electronics accessories, with approximately $23M in revenue. The company specialized in signal management systems for cable and satellite TV, as well as off-air radio and television antennas.

By 2005, following a strategic rebranding and early adoption of emerging technologies such as satellite radio, the company had grown to $56M in sales. This evolution included expansion into a new generation of high-end signal management products under the T2 brand.

At the core of this transformation was an integrated design approach. The corporate design department was responsible for all creative functions—from product design and brand identity to advertising, packaging, PR, and user manuals—ensuring a consistent and coherent expression across every customer touchpoint.

New brand identities and visual brand languages were developed to unify the product portfolio and elevate its market presence. This holistic approach created a seamless end-user experience, reinforcing key brand values of Performance, Quality, and Design.

By aligning product innovation with a strong and consistent brand expression, design became a central driver of differentiation, contributing directly to the company’s growth and repositioning in the market.

Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, Packaging Design, Corporate Identity, Trade Show Exhibit Design, Marketing Communication

Year:

1999 - 2005

Design Team:

Neil Terk, Bill Cowles, Stuart Reinhardt, Donald May, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

Galaxy Aerospace — Corporate Aircraft Interior Program

For the flagship aircraft of Galaxy Aerospace, a 8 to 12 private and corporate jet, an interior program was developed in close collaboration with the manufacturer, IAI (Israel Aerospace Industries). The scope included both the demonstrator aircraft and standard production interiors, as well as a series of fully customized cabin configurations for individual clients.

The design intent was to establish a contemporary yet enduring interior language—one that would feel forward-looking without relying on trends. For the demonstrator aircraft in particular, the approach was notably progressive for its time (1995), emphasizing a calm, refined atmosphere achieved through low-contrast material palettes and a warm, cohesive tonal balance.

Rather than emphasizing visual complexity, the interiors focused on comfort, spatial clarity, and a sense of quiet sophistication appropriate for long-range private travel. This restraint allowed the quality of proportion, detail, and material transition to define the passenger experience.

Across both production and bespoke aircraft, the design language ensured continuity while allowing flexibility for client-specific customization—balancing industrial precision with the expectations of a highly personal, premium environment.

Year:

1994-1997

Design Team (Henry Dreyfuss Associates):

Jim Ryan, Carl Thompson, Arthur Nichols, Joseph Toro, Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

ACYS - 50’ Sailing Yacht (Concept)

Advisors: Yiannins Mavrikios & Andrew Winch

Jeanneau Merry Fisher 900 (Production)

Jeanneau Merry Fisher 800 (Production)

Jeanneau Merry Fisher 800 Walk-around (Project)

50’ Sailing Yacht (Concept)

Year:

1991-1993

Design Team:

Jean-Jacques L’Hénaff

Mikimoto Writing Instruments — A Study in Craft and Culture

Designed for Mikimoto, the Japanese originator of the cultured pearl, this collection of writing instruments translates the brand’s heritage of refinement and craftsmanship into a contemporary object of everyday use.

Comprising a fountain pen, a rollerball, and a mechanical pencil, the collection draws its inspiration from the Arashiyama bamboo grove near Kyoto. The vertical rhythm, natural elegance, and quiet strength of bamboo informed both the proportions and the surface articulation of each piece, resulting in a design language that is at once organic and precise.

This inspiration evolved into a subtle yet distinctive interaction: the three instruments are conceived as a set, with the pencil designed to interlock with the fountain pen and rollerball. This creates a playful, almost architectural composition—transforming individual writing tools into a unified object when at rest.

Originally developed as part of a broader corporate gifting program, the collection quickly resonated beyond its initial intent. Its combination of cultural reference, functional innovation, and refined detailing appealed to a global audience, establishing it as a distinctive expression of Mikimoto’s values—where tradition, design, and everyday ritual meet.

Year:

1998

Design Team:

A3D / Arnell Group