Vintage chair prototype
(Image credit: Yves Behar and Bret Recor)
By Rosa Bertoli
last updated

Yves Behar examines some of the blueprints for Eames furniture classics

Yves Behar examines some of the blueprints for Eames furniture classics

(Image credit: Yves Behar and Bret Recor)

The Archive Building contains rows and rows of blueprints, sketches

The Archive Building contains rows and rows of blueprints, sketches, plans and correspondence dating back to the first half of the 20th-century

(Image credit: Yves Behar and Bret Record)

Fabric panels designed

Fabric panels designed by Alexander Girard for Herman Miller in the early seventies

(Image credit: Alexander Girard)

The Action Office revolutionised workplace design and consisted of modular components that could respond to changes quickly

In 1964, Herman Miller introduced the world’s first open-plan office system. The Action Office revolutionised workplace design and consisted of modular components that could respond to changes quickly

(Image credit: press)

Behar and Recor with an original moulded plywood leg splint

Behar and Recor with an original moulded plywood leg splint designed by Charles and Ray Eames for the US Navy. The technology used to develop the product informed their future furniture designs

(Image credit: Charles and Ray Eames)

Behar with archive sketches for Herman Miller office chairs

Behar with archive sketches for Herman Miller office chairs

(Image credit: Yves Behar and Bret Record)

Original fabric designs in the archives

Original fabric designs in the archives

(Image credit: press)

The mould for the original Eames fibreglass ’shell’ chair

The mould for the original Eames fibreglass ’shell’ chair

(Image credit: press)

The archives contain many vintage prototypes and limited edition models

The archives contain many vintage prototypes and limited edition models

(Image credit: Yves Behar and Bret Record)

Model trucks

Model trucks showing the Herman Miller graphic identity designed as a favour by Irving Harper in the 1940s

(Image credit: Irving Harper)

A production line of ’Mirra’ chairs

A production line of ’Mirra’ chairs, which has surpassed one million units shipped and was designed by Studio 7.5 in Berlin

(Image credit: press)

In the US it is possible to buy Herman Miller desk top air-con

In the US it is possible to buy Herman Miller desk top air-con

(Image credit: press)

A showcase of Herman Miller products at the Greenhouse Building where the ’Aeron’ chair is made

A showcase of Herman Miller products at the Greenhouse Building where the ’Aeron’ chair is made

(Image credit: press)

The ’Scissor Chair’

(Image credit: press)

The ’Scissor Chair’, designed by Ward Bennett in 1968 for Brickel, a company subsequently bought by Geiger (becoming Geiger Brickel), which was later acquired by Herman Miller in 1997. The design is in continuous production and still available today

A wall-mounted memory game in the corridor at the Herman Miller Design Yard

A wall-mounted memory game in the corridor at the Herman Miller Design Yard

(Image credit: press)

In addition to housing the design and development teams

(Image credit: press)

In addition to housing the design and development teams, and having memory games in the corridors, the Design Yard is also where the executive team is now officed, as the company wanted to have the executives close to the design process

Rosa Bertoli

Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.

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