Happy Birthday: George Nelson

Yesterday was George Nelson‘s birthday. The great designer, writer, thinker and collaborator became Herman Miller’s director of design in 1945. Nelson, who would have been 103, helped shape Herman Miller in the ’40s and ’50s working on every element of the business from the iconic logo we still use today to recruiting the likes of Ray and Charles Eames to design for the company.

I came across the portrait above by Californian artist Josie Portillo. She was inspired by a post on Nelson that appeared on the Amsterdam-based blog MidCenturyHome. I think Nelson would have gotten a kick out of the impact he is still having on the design community!

For more on Nelson David Foster has put a wonderful slideshow over on Discover. And don’t forget to check out our Discovering Design (the audio files are fascinating. You can hear Nelson discuss the Herman Miller logo and the origins of the wood slat bench).

And if you’re in San Antonio, Texas, the McNay museum will be exhibiting George Nelson: Architect, Writer, Designer, Teacher beginning June 8.

Clockwise from top left: Four of George Nelson’s designs. The  Swag Leg Chair, Platform Bench, Swag Leg Desk, Coconut Chair

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