Pinch x USM: Food Form Function

During NYCxDESIGN 2026, we came together with USM Modular Furniture to present Food Form Function, an immersive exhibition exploring the intersection of food, furniture, and interaction.

On view from May 16 through June 19 at USM’s SoHo flagship showroom, the collaboration transformed the modular showroom into a playground for culinary experimentation, where food moved beyond the plate and into the architecture of the space itself.

At the heart of the exhibition was a shared philosophy between both studios: transformation through design. For USM, modularity has always been about adaptability and endless possibility. For Pinch, hospitality is equally fluid, built around creating experiences that surprise, engage, and invite participation.

Together, we asked a simple but playful question:

What happens when furniture doesn’t just hold food, but actively participates in serving it?

The answer unfolded through a series of eight custom-designed installations co-created by Pinch and USM. Throughout the showroom, familiar furniture systems were reimagined into functional culinary experiences.

A traditional drawer unit transformed into a peek-a-boo dessert display, inviting guests to open compartments and discover sweets hidden within. A stacked shelving structure became a rotating Lazy Susan presenting monochromatic tarts from every angle. Pinch’s signature Cocktail Fountain emerged directly from a USM base.

Each installation blurred the line between object and interaction, allowing guests to experience food through movement, curiosity, and play.

For Pinch’s Creative Director Marjorie Artieres and Chef and Founder Bob Spiegel, the collaboration felt like a natural extension of the studio’s long-standing philosophy of “thinking outside the plate.”

“What if food could be performed, not just plated?” became the guiding concept behind the exhibition and reflects the foundation of Pinch’s signature “Food Furniture” approach, where service becomes choreography and hospitality becomes interactive.

“The beauty of USM lies in its openness,” says Artieres. “Its ability to become something beyond what was initially intended. As we discovered together, it turns out a USM credenza can also make for a great cocktail fountain.”

More than an exhibition, Food Form Function became an exploration of how design can shape the way people gather, interact, and experience hospitality. By merging modular furniture with culinary performance, USM and Pinch created an environment where food was no longer simply consumed, but discovered.

To kick off this collaboration we invited the New York City design community for a cocktail party.

Food Form Function is on view from 06.16 - 07.19 come check it out!

Photos by: @marco_galloway + Nicholas Persaud