Herman Miller was founded over 100 years ago and remains a staple of modern American furniture. The company continues to provide trendy, cutting-edge design for homes, offices, and healthcare environments. History of Herman Miller Infographic

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1905 – In Zeeland, Michigan, the Star Furniture Company, a producer of traditional bedroom suites, opens for business. 1909 – The company is renamed Michigan Star Furniture Company and hires Dirk Jan De Pree as a clerk. 1919 – D.J. De Pree becomes president of Michigan Star Furniture Company. 1923– De Pree convinces his father-in-law to purchase the majority of the company’s shares. His father-in-law’s name: Herman Miller. 1930 – During the turmoil of the Great Depression, De Pree meets New York designer and architect Gilbert Rohde, who convinces De Pree to change direction from traditional furniture to more modern pieces that adapt to America’s changing needs. 1942 – Herman Miller debuts the Executive Office Group, a series designed by Rohde that featured 137 individual pieces of versatile modular office furniture. 1945 – De Pree hires George Nelson as the company’s first design director. 1946

  • The company introduces the Nelson platform bench.
  • Nelson brings in Charles and Ray Eames, who become known for their:
    • Molded plastic chairs
    • Walnut stools
    • Lounge chair and ottoman
    • Molded plywood chair
1948
  • The company publishes a hardcover product catalog written by George Nelson and designed by the Nelson Office. This is believed to be the first furniture catalog sold instead of distributed for free and quickly becomes a collector’s item.
  • George Nelson brings Isamu Noguchi into the Herman Miller family with the Noguchi table, a glass-topped coffee table.
1951 – Herman Miller hires colorist and textile designer Alexander Girard to head up its Textile Division. 1960 – Robert Propst, inventor and teacher, becomes president of the Herman Miller Research Corporation. 1968 – Propst introduces the Action Office system, an open plan modular system of panels designed to promote health and productivity in the modern office by:
  • Providing new ways of storing and displaying materials
  • Encouraging people to change their posture throughout the day
  • Allowing workers to adapt their furniture to the changes in the workday
    • 1969 – Hugh De Pree steps in as the new chairman of the board after his father resigns. 1971 – The company introduces the Co/Struc system, a spinoff of Propst’s Action Office for the health/science market. 1974 – Herman Miller introduces modular seating designed by Don Chadwick. 1976 – The company introduces the Ergon chair, kicking off a new era of ergonomic seating. 1980 – Max De Pree, Hugh’s brother, becomes chairman and CEO of Herman Miller. 1984 – Herman Miller introduces the Equa chair and the Ethospace system. 1987 – Dick Ruch takes over as CEO of Herman Miller. 1992 – J. Kermit Campbell becomes president and CEO. 1994
    • Herman Miller returns to home furniture with Herman Miller for the Home, which includes new designs mixed with modern classics from the ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s.
    • The company introduces the Aeron chair.
    1995 – Max De Pree retires from the Board of Directors and Mike Volkema replaces J. Kermit Campbell as CEO. 1999 – Herman Miller for the Home introduces the Goetz sofa. 2003 – The company introduces the Mirra, the first piece of office furniture developed according to cradle-to-cradle design. 2004 – Brian Walker becomes president and CEO. 2006 – The company introduces the Leaf, an energy efficient LED table-top light that uses 40% less energy than a 13-watt CFL bulb. 2010 – The company introduces the SAYL chair by Yves Behar. This affordable and innovative chair achieves the highest performance while uses the least amount of materials. Today – Herman Miller continues to expand, designing furniture that is environmentally friendly, comfortable, and innovative. --- Brought to you by The BackStore | thebackstore.com Resources:
    • http://www.hermanmiller.com/content/hermanmiller/northamerica/en_us/home/about-us/who-is-herman-miller/company-timeline/1900.html
    • http://www.hermanmiller.com/why/108-years-in-108-seconds.html
    • http://www.sgenvironments.net/blog/herman-miller-designer-gilbert-rohde-honored-with-us-postal-stamp/
    • http://www.hermanmiller.com/why/the-office-documented.html