IDEA-Winning Materials Program: Now One Year Old
“As Charles Eames said, Herman Miller should make ‘the best for the most for the least,’” says Susan Lyons, design consultant for Herman Miller’s Materials Program—now one-year old. “So let’s call this the year of Grades 1 and 2.”
“We have been working hard to design and develop innovative materials that are both purposeful and beautiful, as well as low cost.”
The work has paid off with great reviews. In fact, the program received a Silver award from the International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA, sponsored by Business Week) in the Design Strategy category.
Developed by the Michael McGinn Design Office, the Materials Program consists of two equally important components:
• The Materials Collection: physical sampling to be seen and touched.
• The Online Materials Program: a website to explore and understand our materials and their application.
The program is also featured in many industry magazines and blogs. Here are a few:
• Otto architecture + design
• Core 77
• Interior Design magazine
“We’ll keep building on our success,” says Lyons, “as we continue to make Herman Miller materials honest, intelligent, and delightful.”
I always enjoy browsing the online materials program gallery. The information on anti-microbial finishes in the high performance textiles brochure is really interesting. Manufacturers in so many different industries are using silver impregnated materials to cut down on the growth of mold and bacteria on surfaces. I’ve seen this technology used on everything from employee ID lanyards to finishes used on stainless steel medical autoclaves. It certainly makes more sense to use this type of natural treatment instead of relying on “anti-bacterial” sprays that germs have become increasingly resistant to.
Daisy McCarty
http://www.sandiegocubicles.com/blog/