Balance, Design
April 12, 2013
By Amy Feezor
Take a look at what’s been on our radar this week.
1. Five black and white offices that are “anything but boring” at Apartment Therapy (agreed).
2. Happy to see our Mirra Chair in one of the greenest structures in the world: the new Center for Sustainable Landscapes, designed by Design Alliance Architects for Pittsburgh’s Phipps Conservatory (via Architizer).
3. The “Quiet Motion” installation by designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec for BMW i at Milan’s Salone del Mobile 2013 (via URDesign Magazine).
4. More Bouroullecs: check out the brothers’ Steelwood Galva for Magis (a new iteration of their Steelwood chair and stool in galvanized steel and beech wood) along with other photos from Salone del Mobile from Wallpaper* Magazine.
5. And even more from Salone del Mobile: enjoying Snap Assembly’s Tumblr coverage of the show.
6. The solitary Eames Molded Plywood Lounge in this composer’s Wisconsin practice studio designed by Johnsen Schmaling Architects at Dezeen.
7. Classic mid-century chair stencils by Stencil 1 spotted by Design Milk.
8. The sunny Fresno House — nicely situated between the forest and the ocean in Carilo, Argentina — co-designed by Felix Raspall and Federico Papandrea and featured at Dornob.
9. The thoughtfully designed L23 House by Pitágoras Arquitectos in Portugal found at Archello.
10. Patrick Rochon’s eye-popping photos of wakeboarders riding special boards affixed with LEDs at Colossal.
Featured in photo: Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Eames Walnut Stools, and Eames Sofa by Charles and Ray Eames
Design, Products
April 11, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
Here at Herman Miller the “Everywhere in Your Day” contest is in full swing. Rounding out the first week, we present these six items inspired by today’s contest clue, now awaiting your clever, watchful eye. And don’t forget to enter here — you could win the grand prize of an Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman!
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Balance, Design
April 10, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
Unless you’ve been living under a Rocky Mountain, you’ve probably seen a lot of Topo Designs over the last year or two. Mark Hansen, along with fellow adventurer Jedd Rose, created the backpack and apparel company to satisfy their obsession for the perfect gear. Together they produce beguiling products, made in the United States, that hit the sweet spot between great aesthetics and smart functionality. Here’s the music Playlist that fills Mark’s workplace. Lend an ear.
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Design, Products
April 9, 2013
By Amy Feezor
Here’s something designed to make you smile: our Everywhere in Your Day interactive video and contest launches today in the Herman Miller Store. It’s an easy way to help you explore how Herman Miller furniture fits everywhere in your every day — as well as your chance to win some of our classic designs. All month long, we’ll be releasing biweekly clues that will lead you through an interactive Everywhere in Your Day video and the Herman Miller Store, where the clickable answers will be embedded. Clicking on the correct answer will enter you to win a series of select Herman Miller prizes; playing all eight clues enters you to win the grand prize — an Eames Lounge and Ottoman.
We’re kicking off the contest with a chance to win a “Smile, you’re designed to.” poster from Fab.com — a Herman Miller favorite, especially since co-founder and chief design officer Bradford Shellhammer regularly declares his devotion to all things Eames. (Have you seen his home?) Watch for your chances to win and to get info on the latest clues by following Herman Miller on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and by visiting the contest page here. Good luck!
Design
April 8, 2013
By Amy Feezor
The studio of Canadian illustrator and letterer Darren Booth contains a nicely curated collection of objects — vintage signs, old photographs, guitars, and, naturally, a variety of letters and favorite illustrations. Get a glimpse inside his workspace in our newest tour. Read more
Balance, Design
April 5, 2013
By Amy Feezor
Take a look at what we’ve been bookmarking this week.
1. The Eames Aluminum Group Management Chair in action at the studio of letterer Erik Marinovich via Warby Parker Class Trip.
2. Inthralld’s tour of visual artist and designer Michelle de la Vega’s garage-to-home conversation (it’s an astounding 250 square feet).
3. This duplex apartment by Paris’s Place de la Madeleine designed and owned by architect Michael Herrmanon (via materialicious).
4. The family home of designer Alice Flynn — a mix of masculine and feminine style — in Avalon NSW Australia, featured on Design*Sponge.
5. More from Down Under: this beautiful home blending indoor and outdoor spaces at Homedit.com.
6. The roundup of smart concrete interiors at Design Milk.
7. This project by MASS Design Group to develop housing for doctors at the Butaro Hospital in Rwanda (via Architizer).
8. The installation created by E/B Office at the Teton County Library in Wyoming that physically responds to the Internet (via The Fox Is Black).
9. Dwell’s look at a modern tree house in Belgium by design firm Baumraum.
10. Did you catch this recent post by Ryan Anderson, Herman Miller Director of Future Technology, at the Drucker Institute’s blog, Drucker Exchange?
Featured in photo: Branca Chair by San Hecht and Kim Colin
Design
April 4, 2013
By Amy Feezor
Three years ago, we featured the home office of Kate Bingaman-Burt, an illustrator and professor of graphic design based in Portland, Oregon. Hers was a vibrant, character-packed workspace that seemed to have a particular sense of joy when it came to color and design. So when we heard she moved into a shared studio, we had to see the result. Get a taste of her new space in this quick tour. Read more
Balance, Design
April 3, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
Based in Charleston, South Carolina, designer Jay Fletcher surfs when he has spare time — or he would if he had any spare time. The creative mind behind this week’s Playlist spends his working hours creating full-scale identities for companies large and small, near and far. Jay’s thoughtful and precise designs are both visually arresting and effective in their communication. Now check out the arresting sound waves emanating from his superbly appointed (with Embody and Eames Molded Plastic chairs) workspace. Listen up.
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Design, Products
April 2, 2013
By Amy Feezor
The pieces that comprise designers Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec’s Steelwood Chair began with Eugenio Perazza, the founder of Italian design firm (and Herman Miller partner) Magis. Perazza wanted an inexpensive wooden chair with simple joints of pressed metal. The Bouroullecs liked the idea, but wanted to take it a step further. The brothers aimed for a design that would be cost-competitive with plastic chairs, yet have a long life span and age well, developing a patina from use and wear.
The result is a straightforward design that thoughtfully combines two traditional materials: steel and wood. Skilled metalworkers use a series of complex mechanical procedures to gradually shear, coin, curve, and cut the metal pieces. The legs and round seat are milled out of solid beech. Together, the materials form a chair that is strong and durable with a natural warmth. Easy to assemble and offered in a selection of painted finishes, its subtle silhouette adapts to a number of environments. “We tried to make a chair that could fit a number of people, and it doesn’t look like a chair for rich or poor, woman or man—it’s universal,” explains Erwan. “Just made in metal and wood that will last and grow old quite nicely. The chair says, ‘Believe me that I’m a chair that will last.’”
Read more about the design’s manufacturing process at Magis here. To add the chair — or any of the Steelwood family, including its stool and table — to your dining or working space, visit the Herman Miller store.
Design, Products, Technology
April 1, 2013
By Jamie Latendresse
When the weather is right, why confer only in the conference room? These days, a little inspiration from Mother Nature might be just the thing. Join your team for some out-of-the-box thinking out of doors with these six handsome solutions for meeting outside.
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