As a bastion of American design dating all the way back to 1905, Herman Miller's trove of furniture design classics from over the years needs little introduction. Today, another aspect of the company's legacy is set to capture the imagination – Herman Miller posters. The company has delved into its graphic art library to bring a selection of its greatest graphic design and illustrations back to life as a poster collection.
Starting with 15 designs that span a range of aesthetic and conceptual styles, the collection not only provides a look into Herman Miller's heavily guarded archive but shines a light on lesser known works by the company's most celebrated creative collaborators.
A graphic design heritage
A 1962 poster by Armin Hofmann, $1,125.
'Reintroducing Herman Miller's archival graphics as a collection has been a longtime dream of the brand,' says Amy Auscherman, the company's director of global archives and brand heritage, who spearheaded the initiative. 'The posters and advertisements are always a favourite when we have them available for purchase, lend them to museums, and have visitors at our archive in West Michigan.'
The inaugural offering includes designs from 1949 to 1979 that range from product advertisements to nostalgic brand ephemera. The poster series starts with a Hardware ad (1949) by Irving Harper, who was a member of George Nelson's specialised design team and was credited for creating the Herman Miller logo; it also includes one of Stephen Frykholm’s Corn Picnic posters (the first design from the famed series); as well as a 1969 illustration by the Swiss designer Armin Hofmann, which will be offered in a limited edition of 200. The series provides an illuminating view into the brand's history, particularly George Nelson's lasting influence on the company. Six poster designs in the collection are from the George Nelson & Associates team, and represent its iconic visual language.
Vintage Herman Miller posters
Two illustration from the Nelson Office from 1960, $545 each.
What’s more, the sizing and material composition of each poster design has been carefully selected to represent the vintage original as faithfully as possible. The assortment, which is now on sale at Herman Miller and Design Within Reach online stores, ranges from $475 to $1,125, with frames available in white, black or maple.
‘We closely referenced examples from the Herman Miller Archives to faithfully recreate these iconic pieces of graphic design,' says Auscherman. 'From colour matching to paper selection, no detail was too small for consideration. It's exciting to have this work recontextualised as art objects and accessible to design fans everywhere.'
A 1956 ad for the Coconut chair by George Nelson, $475.
1970 ‘Sweet Corn Picnic’ poster by Stephen Frykholm, $895.
A 1956 ad for the ‘Coconut’ chair by George Nelson, $475.
A 1960 illustration by the Nelson Office, $545.
A 1960 illustration by the Nelson Office, $545.
A 1960 illustration by the Nelson Office, $545.
A 1960 illustration by the Nelson Office, $545.
A 1979 poster by Linda Powell, $795.
‘Rainbow Resources’ poster, $795, designed in 1979 by Phillip Mitchell under the creative direction of Stephen Frykholm, who was serving as creative director at Herman Miller at the time.
‘Organic Forms’ poster, $595, designed in 1979 by Phillip Mitchell under the creative direction of Steve Frykholm, who was serving as Creative Director at Herman Miller at the time.
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