14
HermanMiller
For many, the company Herman Miller is synonymous
with the office – in particular the ground-breaking
Aeron chair which changed the face of office seating
when it was launched in 1994, and continues to roll off
the production line at a rate of one every 17 seconds.
While Aeron was unique in many ways, the approach
to its design was far from revolutionary. The ground
work began with the first Director of Design for
Herman Miller, George Nelson who held the position
from 1946 to 1972. During his tenure, George
Nelson defined a set of principles that have guided
the company ever since: what we make is important;
design is an integral part of the business; the product
must be honest; we decide what we make; there is a
market for good design.
Putting this philosophy into action, Nelson launched
the Herman Miller Collection in 1948 which he
described as ‘a permanent collection designed to meet
fully the requirements for modern living.’ The Herman
Miller Collection has been through various iterations
since its inception, but a key element is the continual
showcase of designers who share the company’s values
and attitudes.
With that in mind the current Collection presents
updated archival pieces alongside new designs from
today’s top talent – bridging Herman Miller’s past,
present and future. You’ll find designs from the 1940s
onwards juxtaposed with pieces from the present day
– seen together in every environment, these designs,
whether they are by Isamu Noguchi, Ward Bennett
or BassamFellows, all speak the same language, and
all reflect those design principles set out by George
Nelson.
Each piece in the Herman Miller Collection requires a
delicate balance between craft and industrial process.
The Collection uses the latest technology and newest
materials available, but it remains grounded in the
quality and value produced by the thoughtfulness,
and individual human touches of the workers who
assemble many of its pieces by hand. Alongside this are
the materials used for each product. State-of-the-art
textiles build on decades of learning and investigation,
with carefully chosen materials that use new processes
or embrace the ties to our design heritage.
Whether it is the designer, production or materials,
each offering serves the product and the user while
also innovatively exemplifying the Collection’s DNA:
practical beauty.
www.hermanmiller.co.uk/collection