Better World, Design, Technology
November 6, 2009
By Bill Holm
Note: This is the third in a series. To read the first post, see “Getting Buildings and People In Sync.” For the second post, “Cut Electrical Use, Get ‘Stimulused,’ and Earn LEED Credits.”
What if someone invented a simple, affordable device you quickly attach to your car to save you gas? Genius, right?
Well then, check this out. It’s Herman Miller’s new Energy Manager—a simple, affordable device you quickly attach to your Herman Miller systems furniture (new or retrofit) to save you electrical energy, 24/7.
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Design, Products
November 5, 2009
By Marcia Davis
With its dramatic bowstring wood trusses, curved walls, and freestanding forms, Herman Miller’s Los Angeles showroom epitomizes Herman Miller’s design legacy—right down to the details.
Check out how this video captures the extensive level of detail and craft—in both the architecture and the products—that create a dynamic spatial flow and enhance the natural beauty of the materials in the space. Then come see for yourself. We’re pretty sure you’ll be delighted.
Design
November 4, 2009
By Bill Robinson
When Nancy, my spouse, and I were married, seventeen years ago, we asked that any gifts be donations to community non-profits.
A few friends gave us presents anyway. Ben is an architect and former Herman Miller salesperson. (He and Nancy worked together at Herman Miller in the late 1980’s.) Ben’s carefully wrapped package was large, long, and narrow. It wasn’t a blender. It was an Eames plywood leg splint.
Charles and Ray Eames developed the splint for the Navy during World War II. It was the first application of a wood molding technology that the Eameses pioneered. It led to numerous Herman Miller chairs, including the signature Eames molded plywood chair.
The splint is simple and functional, yet highly considered. It is a powerful statement concerning innovation and design. Ben, our friend, understood why Nancy and I admired and respected the Eameses. Their ideas challenge. Their ideals inspire. Ben knew that his wedding gift would have special significance.
Today, the plywood splint is an important part of our art collection. A strong and striking object, it is guaranteed to generate interest and discussion. What was created in the 1940’s to treat an injured leg continues to celebrate good design. It also evokes fond memories of what was, for Nancy and me, a happy and special day.
Design, Herman Miller Journal
November 3, 2009
By Randall Braaksma
As head of Herman Miller’s creative crew, Steve Frykholm has shaped the company’s image for nearly 40 years and won plenty of recognition for it. But his love of poster making began with a stint in Aba, Nigeria, where he worked in the Peace Corps. The journey his posters took eventually landed them in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
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Products
November 2, 2009
By Marcia Davis
The Baltimore Convention Center was the location for NeoCon East—the design exposition and conference for the Mid-Atlantic design community—October 28 and 29. It’s where Herman Miller showcased an array of recently introduced products designed to promote both energy efficiency and flexibility.
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Better World, Design, Technology
October 30, 2009
By Bill Holm
Note: This is the second in a series. To read the first post, see “Getting Buildings and People In Sync.”
The nutshell idea for Programmable Environments (PE) is to use technology to fill new or existing buildings with intelligence. The building becomes a digital network so that permanent fixtures become adaptable. You can make them do exactly what you need them to do at any moment, change them instantly, and gather real time information about how they are used.
And it’s easy. Here’s the story:
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Better World, Products
October 29, 2009
By Kate Convissor
It was a bad year for corn here in northern Michigan. Cool. Damp. Not much sun. Consequently, plants that usually arch over my head barely reached my shoulder, and ears that usually fatten within their green sheaves were the size of a plump thumb.
So, I wondered, what happens to things made from corn in a bad year? Things like corn fabric, for instance?
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Design
October 28, 2009
By Bill Holm
Photo via: The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post blog has a fun way to get to know some fascinating concepts in architecture, all of which exemplify new technology and sustainability. It’s a poll called “11 Incredible Buildings from the Future” where you can rate startling new concepts on a scale of 1-10—Snooze to Super.
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Design, Well-Being, What's Up
October 27, 2009
By Carissa Carter
Today I picked up a brick and threw it across a parking lot. Maybe you crushed a sheet of aluminum foil? Your daughter might have let a pawful of sand fall through her fingers, or your best friend might be crawling around on a shag carpet right now.
Almost every material or object has a texture. These items and surfaces are tangible. They have weight, density, and a composite quality. We have tactile reactions to products and artifacts that can be drivers for our purchasing decisions and triggers for memories.
But can an experience have a texture? Does a conversation or a presentation have a tactile signature? How might we qualify the interactions and knowledge shared at a conference?
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Better World, What's Up
October 26, 2009
By Marcia Davis
Graphic via: Greenbuild
Herman Miller will be heading to Phoenix, Arizona for the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo held on November 11-13, 2009. Hosted by the US Green Building Council, the annual conference—the world’s largest of its kind—offers attendees information on the latest advances in green building practices and design. As a sponsor of the event, Herman Miller is excited about the opportunity to share our progress towards achieving a zero operational footprint by 2020 as part of our environmental advocacy. Join us on Twitter for real-time updates on what’s new in “green” and what’s happening on the show floor.