Born in Fontenay-sous-Bois, near Paris, Jouve studied at the École Boulle and began his career as a sculptor before turning to design. In the 1920s, he worked with architects Le Corbusier and Pierre Jeanneret on interior design projects.
In the 1930s, Jouve created pieces of furniture in metal and glass that were characterized by their geometric simplicity and functionality. He also worked in collaboration with the famous French publishing house Éditions de la Pléiade, for whom he designed book covers and illustrations.
During the Second World War, Jouve worked for the French Resistance, for whom he created false identity cards and other documents. After the war, he resumed his design work and continued to produce furniture and decorative objects until his death in 1962.
Today, Jouve's works are sought after by collectors and feature in the collections of many art and design museums, including the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.