Alexander Girard, famed textile designer and Herman Miller collaborator, at work in his studio
Alexander Girard, famed textile designer and Herman Miller collaborator, at work in his studio, circa 1972
(Image credit: TBC)
By Henrietta Thompson
last updated

When word that Yves Behar was working on a new chair for Herman Miller reached the Wallpaper* offices, we sped across the pond to the manufacturer's HQ in Michigan to find out more. There, we not only discovered the chair in question - the Golden Gate Bridge-inspired 'SAYL' (see our October issue) - but a remarkable archive of original design drawings for the now ubiquitous Eames Lounge Chair, alongside George Nelson's manifestos and vintage advertising artwork.

A more prestigious, and historically rich, chair manufacturer would be hard to find: Herman Miller's reverential relationship towards its designers has helped put industrial design on the map. With no internal design team, the company chooses its creative talent carefully and nurtures it over time. 'It's the designer's vision we're striving for,' says Don Goeman, Herman Miller's executive president. 'But that is a responsibility as much as an opportunity. The designer is given the reigns, but if the vision is not right, the team realises they are not being pulled in the right direction.'

Another treasure we discovered on our rifle through the archives was a 1956 film. It shows the iconic Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman being assembled by Herman Miller worker, Dick Hoffman.

Herman miller

(Image credit: Herman Miller)

Watch the film

Herman Miller furniture designs.

An ad from 1963 touting authentic Herman Miller furniture designs. This shows that knock-offs were already appearing more than 40 years ago

(Image credit: Herman Miller)

’Nelson Coconut chair’

A 1956 ad for the ’Nelson Coconut chair’ by George Nelson. The graphics for the ad were almost certainly done by the Nelson office

(Image credit: Nelson office)

’Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman’

A 1956 ad for the ’Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman’

(Image credit: Herman Miller)

Herman Miller’s ’Textile & Objects’

A 1961 ad for Herman Miller’s ’Textile & Objects’ store, often referred to as the ’T&O’ - a retail venture championed and led by Alexander Girard

(Image credit: Alexander Girard)

Alexander Girard textile designs

A 1966 ad featuring Alexander Girard textile designs

(Image credit: Alexander Girard)

Eames ’Aluminum Group’ chair

A 1960s ad for the Eames ’Aluminum Group’ chair

(Image credit: Herman Miller)

The Herman Miller showroom in San Francisco

The Herman Miller showroom in San Francisco, circa 1967

(Image credit: Herman Miller)

Alexander Girard at work in his studio

Alexander Girard at work in his studio, circa 1967

(Image credit: Press)

Charles Eames and George Nelson in conversation

Charles Eames and George Nelson in conversation in 1959

(Image credit: Press)

Eames Aluminum Group

A 1962 ad for the Eames Aluminum Group

(Image credit: Press)

Herman Miller’s design consultants - Nelson, Eames and Girard

A 1954 ad highlighting Herman Miller’s design consultants - Nelson, Eames and Girard

(Image credit: Herman Miller)

A 1960 Girard ad

A 1960 Girard ad

(Image credit: Alexander Girard)

Eames furniture ad, highlighting plastic shell chairs and the Eames Storage Units

Late 1940s Eames furniture ad, highlighting plastic shell chairs and the Eames Storage Units (ESU)

(Image credit: Herman Miller)

Nelson ad graphic

Nelson ad graphic, circa 1967

(Image credit: Nelson ad graphic)

Eames photographing the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman production at Herman Miller

Eames photographing the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman production at Herman Miller, circa early 1973

(Image credit: Herman Miller)

The Eames ’Shell’ chairs

A 1954 ad for the Eames ’Shell’ chairs (upholstered) on a swivel base and ’ESU’ desk - an early example of Herman Miller’s focus on the commercial workplace market

(Image credit: Herman Miller)

A photograph of the San Francisco Herman Miller showroom

A photograph of the San Francisco Herman Miller showroom in 1959, designed by Alexander Girard, featuring the ’Nelson Swag Leg Chair and Desk’, with a Nelson ’Thin Edge’ day bed in background

(Image credit: Alexander Girard)

A 1969 ad highlighting select Nelson pieces

A 1969 ad highlighting select Nelson pieces, as well as Isamu Noguchi’s iconic coffee table for Herman Miller

(Image credit: Herman Miller)

Eames plastic shell chairs

A 1969 ad featuring the many varieties/configurations of the Eames plastic shell chairs

(Image credit: Herman Miller)
Henrietta Thompson
Latest