“Many Hands,” the award-winning environment created by Herman Miller and Gensler, featured a long table with seating for eighteen provided by classic Eames Molded Plastic Chairs with ebonized solid ash wood legs. Shades of black, silver, and purple highlighted the dining surface as well as the setting’s backdrop: a surprising (and edible) wall crafted from rows of Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Kisses. Guests at the exhibit were encouraged to unwrap and enjoy a chocolate, which slowly transformed the color of the wall from the candy wrapper’s deep purple foil exterior to the silver of its opened interior.  The concept visually demonstrated how small actions can make a remarkable difference — and spark positive change.

The Dining by Design event will move on to Kansas City in on April 13 and will be touring Detroit, Dallas, San Francisco, and Chicago in the fall. For more information, visit diffa.org.

Photos: Amy Feezor

A contemporary interpretation of the classic Adirondack chair, the outdoor version of this semi-reclined design uses thermo-oiled ash, a finish that employs a new process of heat-treating and hand-oiling to seal the wood and keep it moisture-resistant. Get it just in time for the new spring season at the Herman Miller store.

Last spring, while the original contents of Charles and Ray Eameses’ living room were on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Herman Miller Collection team had the rare opportunity to hold a photo shoot in the husband-and-wife team’s landmark home. The capper? They were also invited to explore Ray’s extensive, well-curated personal collection of objects to use as props. In celebration of Ray’s upcoming 100th birthday, we asked Jennie Maneri, Art Director, Collection and Retail, to walk us through a few of the shots and explain how the details Ray was know for helped bring the Collection to life.

“We knew going into the project that many of the photos would draw from Charles and Ray’s own photos — not shot for shot, but as inspiration. This image [above] is a re-imagining of a picture they’d taken [below] using all the same furniture pieces in the same location, except their lounge and ottoman had black leather and the old Rosewood shell. We wanted to do the updated version in white ash and pearl MCL leather. We included one of Ray’s baskets and her jade plant, which we brought in from the outside. This photo really moved me, as I felt that it was the shot that shows what the Collection is all about: a lived-in quality, a feeling of warmth, beautiful architecture, timeless design.” Pictured above: Eames Lounge and Ottoman, White Ash and Eames Sofa Compact

“We, of course, wanted to shoot the Ray-inspired Select Eames LTR in the home. The bowls on the tables are hers, as is the unique cat sculpture sitting on top of the grouped tables.” Pictured above: Select Eames Wire Base Low Tables and Eames Molded Plywood Chairs

“The inspiration for this shot was ‘Ray getting ready for a party.’ We used her china, her champagne glasses, and some amazing gold flatware. We even went into her garden and picked Aster flowers for her bud jar.” Pictured above: Eames Table and Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chairs

“We shot this photo in the Eames Studio, which is adjacent to the house. The whale sculpture was hers. According to old photos, it was once hanging in the house. It had also been in the original Herman Miller showroom in Los Angeles, which Ray and Charles had designed and styled. We found Ray’s rug folded into a tiny cube within a big stack of textiles. We didn’t even know it was a rug until we opened it up. There were a lot of wonderful surprises like that throughout the day of the shoot.” Pictured above: Eames Molded Plastic Armchair and Eames Storage Unit

“This shot is not in the Collection catalog, but everything here is Ray’s: the plants, the decorative sculptures, the saucers (which were almost like little dessert bowls on pedestals). And then there are pieces from her collections of bowls and salt-and-pepper shakers. . . . There was so much to choose from. Ray didn’t just have one salt bowl; she’d have 40 salt bowls, all different. She’d have 50 different candlesticks and all kinds of plates and bowls. There were cabinets of vases. Drawers of linens. We saw artifacts from different cultures — earthenware, African baskets. But they’d all still be a curated collection. And we found inspiration in the way she could could take very-different objects — a sea pod, a bowl, fresh flowers — and turn that combination into sculpture. Ray made sure her toolbox was abundant, but how she put it together — that’s where the art came from.” Pictured above: Eames Table Outdoor and Eames Molded Plastic Side Chairs

See more of the Collection at hermanmiller.com/collection.

Photos: Francois Dischinger for Herman Miller

If you’re anything like us, staying eco is always on your mind. In honor of Earth Day 2012, here are six items that can help you continue to be kind to our environment — and create a better world around you.

1. Eames Molded Plastic Armchair with Wood Dowel Base It’s an iconic chair that needs no introduction, but it’s more than just a design classic. With a 100% recyclable polypropylene seat sit atop maple dowel legs, it’s not only beautiful, but earth-friendly. Get one at Herman Miller.

2. Ink’D Biodegradable Pens They write beautifully. They have a fun and flashy personality. And they achieve 82.3% biodegradation in 101 days, complying with ASTM D6400 standards. Better still, you can be a part of Ink’D Pens’ production through Kickstarter, which is bringing green products and projects to market around the world. Write it up at Kickstarter.

3. Maizy Series Clock, Spalvieri / Del Ciotto for Lexon Like the radio, light, and calculators in the Maizy series, the clock is produced with biodegradable PLA plastic. PLA is derived from renewable resources like corn starch. You get a clean, minimal design that can return to the earth at the end of its time. Maizy knows what time it is. You can, too, at Lexon.

4. Nelson Pedestal Stool The perfect little accent seat, it fits practically anywhere you will. Bright pops of color with the exceedingly elegant lines George Nelson was renowned for. And of course, they’re manufactured with recyclable upholstery and aluminum. It has it all. Part of the new Herman Miller Collection.

5. MacBook Air It might seem unlikely, but an Apple MacBook Air possesses a remarkably eco-friendly pedigree — like an EPEAT Gold rating for environmental effects, Energy Star 5.2 compliance for energy efficiency, and Apple will see to your computer’s recycling at the end of its life. From Apple.

6. Wellrounded Sound Well Rounded Sound produces beautifully bespoke loudspeakers with sustainably harvested wood enclosures, ultra-low VOC content wood finishes, and 100% New Zealand wool felt. They’ll even provide info on recycling your speakers when the time comes. How can you not like the sound of that? Get some here.

Photos: Linked to their sources within text

Want a sneak peek? Hear all about the Collection’s updated classics, complementary furnishings and accessories from our partners, and new designs over at Discover.