Julian Appelius was born in Munich in 1973 and grew up in France. He trained before he studied: a cabinetmaking apprenticeship, followed by sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich. The first taught him a sense for material — what holds, what doesn’t, where a joint makes sense. The second taught him a sense for form — how a volume works in space, independent of what it will later be used for.
In 1998 he moved to Berlin to study Industrial Design at the Berlin University of the Arts (UdK), completing his diploma in 2003 and opening his own studio the same year. From these three stages — craft, sculpture, industrial design — comes a particular way of looking at objects: they should function, but not only function.
In his career, Appelius has designed a diverse array of products for esteemed manufacturers, including Ingo Maurer, pulpo, freistil by Rolf Benz, Koziol, and Konstantin Slawinski. He is also known for his collaborative work with partners, clients, and agencies on interdisciplinary projects involving interior design, concepts, installations, presentations, trade fair booths and events.
He resides in Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg district with his four children. Throughout his career, Appelius has participated in numerous exhibitions and has been honored with several design awards.
