Shop for Home Learn and Plan United Kingdom Company Timeline 1900 1905 Star Furniture Company, a manufacturer of high-quality, traditional-style bedroom suites, opens for business in Zeeland, Michigan. 1909 Star Furniture Company is renamed Michigan Star Furniture Company. The company hires Dirk Jan (D.J.) De Pree as a clerk. De Pree is 18 years old. 1910 1919 D.J. De Pree is named president of Michigan Star Furniture Company. 1920 1923 Michigan Star Furniture Company becomes the Herman Miller Furniture Company when D.J. De Pree convinces his father-in-law, Herman Miller, to purchase the majority of shares in the Michigan Star Furniture Company. De Pree becomes the first president of the Herman Miller Furniture Company, which continues to manufacture reproductions of traditional home furniture. 1927 D.J. De Pree founds the Herman Miller Clock Company. The clock company makes traditionally designed clocks and later adds Gilbert Rohde designs. A millwright dies on the job. De Pree visits the family, where the millwright's widow reads poetry written by her husband. De Pree, deeply moved, makes a commitment to treat all workers as individuals with special talents and potential. The story of the millwright becomes part of Herman Miller lore. 1930 1930 Herman Miller, like many companies, faces failure amid the turmoil of the Great Depression. De Pree, looking for a way to save the company, meets Gilbert Rohde, a designer from New York, at Herman Miller's Grand Rapids showroom. Rohde convinces De Pree to move away from traditional furniture and to focus on products better suited to the changing needs and life styles of Americans. 1933 Herman Miller debuts its Rohde-designed furniture at the Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. 1937 D.J. De Pree turns the Herman Miller Clock Company over to his brother-in-law, Howard Miller, who renames it the Howard Miller Clock Company. 1939 Herman Miller opens a showroom in Chicago's Merchandise Mart. 1940 1942 The Executive Office Group, designed by Gilbert Rohde, signals Herman Miller's entry into the office-furniture market. Modular and versatile, EOG is a precursor of systems furniture. Herman Miller's Los Angeles showroom opens. Charles and Ray Eames are commissioned by the Navy to develop lightweight, moulded plywood leg splints. 1944 Gilbert Rohde dies. De Pree begins searching for a new design leader. 1945 After seeing an article in Life magazine on George Nelson and his Storagewall design, D.J. De Pree hires him to serve as the company's first design director. 1946 The Nelson Office designs the stylised "m" logo and introduces a new corporate image for Herman Miller. The Nelson platform bench is introduced. The Eames moulded plywood chair, moulded plywood lounge chair, moulded plywood folding screen and moulded plywood coffee table are introduced. New York's Museum of Modern Art installs a small exhibition called "New Furniture Designed by Charles Eames", the museum's first one-man furniture show. Nelson and De Pree recruit Charles and Ray Eames into the Herman Miller fold. 1947 Herman Miller gains exclusive market and distribution rights to the Eameses' award-winning moulded plywood products. These rights are acquired from the Evans Products Company of Grand Haven, Michigan, which retains production rights. 1948 Herman Miller publishes and sells a bound, hardback product catalogue, written by George Nelson and designed by the Nelson Office. The catalogue articulates Herman Miller's philosophy and principles about business and design. It is believed to be the first time that a furniture catalogue is sold, rather than distributed free. It becomes a collector's item. Herman Miller introduces a glass-topped coffee table designed by Isamu Noguchi. 1949 Moulded plywood manufacturing moves from the Grand Haven, Michigan, manufacturing site of Evans Products to a Herman Miller manufacturing facility in Zeeland. Another manufacturing plant, which later becomes the Eames Studio, opens in Venice, California. 1950 1950 Herman Miller becomes the first company in Michigan to adopt the Scanlon Plan, a programme of participatory management and gain sharing. This begins a long relationship with Dr Carl Frost, who will guide the company's participatory endeavours for many years. The world's first moulded fibreglass chairs, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, are introduced by Herman Miller. Eames storage units and wire base tables are introduced. 1951 Herman Miller begins its long association with Alexander Girard, noted colourist and textile designer. The Eames elliptical table is introduced. 1952 Girard leads the newly formed Herman Miller Textile Division. Nelson bubble lamps are introduced. 1953 Girard wallpapers and the Eames Hang-It-All are introduced. 1954 Nelson pedestal tables and the Eames sofa compact are introduced. 1955 Eames storage units are discontinued. They will be reintroduced in 1998. The Eames moulded plywood folding screen is discontinued. It will be reintroduced in 1994. Nelson coconut lounge chairs and Eames stacking/ganging chairs are introduced. 1956 The Eames lounge chair and footstool are introduced on national television (The Today Show). The chair is to become a highly visible emblem of Herman Miller quality and innovation. The Nelson marshmallow sofa is introduced. 1957 The Eames moulded plywood chair, moulded plywood lounge chair and moulded plywood coffee table are discontinued. They will be reintroduced in 1994. Herman Miller begins selling its products to the European market. 1958 Robert Propst becomes a Herman Miller researcher. Herman Miller begins building its Zeeland headquarters complex. George Nelson is the primary architect. A new plant opens in Venice, California, and a showroom opens in San Francisco. Eames aluminium group chairs are introduced. 1959 Nelson's Comprehensive Storage System, which uses vertical space to free up living space, is introduced. 1960 1960 The Herman Miller Furniture Company incorporates, becoming Herman Miller, Inc. The Herman Miller Research Division, which will later become the Herman Miller Research Corporation, opens in Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a wholly owned subsidiary. Its president is inventor and teacher Robert Propst. Eames walnut stools are introduced. 1961 Herman Miller's textiles and accessories retail shop, the Textiles and Objects Shop (a.k.a. T & O), opens in New York City. It will close in 1967. The Eames Hang-It-All is discontinued. It will be reintroduced in 1994. 1962 Hugh De Pree, son of D.J., assumes leadership of Herman Miller, Inc. as president and chief executive officer. D.J. becomes chairman of the board. Eames tandem sling seating is introduced and installed at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. 1964 Bob Propst and George Nelson work together on the first prototypes of Action Office 1, a group of free-standing units that will evolve into the Action Office system. The Eames elliptical table is discontinued. It will be reintroduced in 1994. The Nelson sling sofa is introduced. Eames dining tables are introduced. 1965 The marshmallow sofa is discontinued. It will be reintroduced in 1999. 1966 With nearly 150 dealers, Herman Miller has expanded its presence to Central and South America, Australia, Canada, Europe, Africa, the Near East, Scandinavia and Japan. 1967 The Nelson platform bench is discontinued. It will be reintroduced in 1994. In Switzerland, Herman Miller introduces the Panton chair, a single-form, completely plastic chair. It will be sold until 1975. 1968 Herman Miller introduces the Action Office system, the world's first open-plan modular system of panels and attaching components. Designed by Robert Propst, AO, as it will come to be called, will revolutionise office design and spawn a whole new industry. Robert Propst's book, The Office: A Facility Based on Change, is published. The Eames chaise is introduced. 1969 D.J. De Pree steps down as chairman of the board. Hugh De Pree becomes the new chairman. Herman Miller, United Kingdom, forms. It has sales and marketing responsibilities throughout the United Kingdom and Scandinavia. Eames soft pad chairs are introduced. 1970 1970 Herman Miller, Inc. offers stock to the public. The Eames Office designs the stock certificate. Herman Miller opens a new facility in Bath, UK. 1971 Herman Miller enters the health/science market with the introduction of the Co/Struc system, based on a concept originated from Bob Propst in the 1960s. 1973 Eames soft pad lounge chairs, executive tables and segmented base rectangular tables are introduced. The Noguchi coffee table is discontinued. It will be reintroduced in 1984. 1974 Rapid Response becomes the industry's first quick-ship programme. Chadwick modular seating, designed by Don Chadwick, is introduced. 1975 A major exhibition, "Nelson, Eames, Girard, Propst: The Design Process at Herman Miller", opens at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis. 1976 Star Industries, later called Integrated Metal Technology, becomes a Herman Miller subsidiary. Building C is added to the main site. Herman Miller introduces the Ergon chair, and a new era of ergonomic seating begins. The Design of Herman Miller, by Ralph Caplan, is published by the Whitney Library of Design. 1979 Herman Miller opens the Facility Management Institute in Ann Arbor, Michigan, helping to establish the profession of facility management. 1980 1980 A new Holland seating plant is built. The Building B production site is converted to office space. Max De Pree becomes chairman and chief executive officer. 1981 Burdick Group is introduced. V-Wall movable walls are introduced. Herman Miller's Energy Centre begins burning waste to generate power – both electrical and steam – to run the company's million-square-foot Main Site manufacturing facility. 1982 Tradex, Inc. becomes a Herman Miller subsidiary, providing easy-to-acquire workstations, case goods and seating. Its name is later changed to Phoenix Designs and then to Miller SQA. Vaughan Walls, Inc., a manufacturer of movable, modular walls, becomes a Herman Miller subsidiary. 1983 A special stock-ownership plan establishes all Herman Miller employees as shareholders. 1984 Herman Miller opens facilities in the UK and France. The Equa chair, the Ethospace system and the Eames sofa are introduced. 1985 Milcare, a wholly owned subsidiary, is formed from the company's Health/Science Division, which began in 1971. It will be renamed Herman Miller for Healthcare in 1999. The Worldesign Congress names Charles Eames "The Most Influential Designer of the Century" and Action Office "The Most Significant Design" since 1960. Dealerships open in Korea, Malaysia, and Australia. Herman Miller Research Corporation publishes The Negotiable Environment. 1986 George Nelson dies. The Custom Choices Division is established to offer non-standard products. Construction of the Design Yard in Holland, Michigan, begins. The Scooter stand is introduced. 1987 Action Office enhancements become Action Office Encore (later renamed Action Office Series 2). Dick Ruch is named Herman Miller CEO, the first person outside of the De Pree family to hold that title. Newhouse Group furniture is introduced. 1988 Ray Eames dies. Max De Pree publishes Leadership is an Art. Ergon 2 chairs and Ethospace support cabinets are introduced. 1989 The Equa chair wins a Design of the Decade award from Time magazine. Herman Miller employees create the Environmental Quality Action Team (EQAT) to coordinate environmental programmes company-wide and involve as many employees as possible. 1990 1990 Meridian becomes a Herman Miller subsidiary. Herman Miller is the only office furniture manufacturer to be a founding member of the Tropical Forest Foundation. Other co-founders include Caterpillar, the Audubon Society and Bank of America. D.J. De Pree dies. 1991 Action Office Series 3 is introduced. Herman Miller launches its Supplier Diversity Programme to increase business opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses. 1992 J. Kermit Campbell becomes Herman Miller's fifth CEO and president, the first person from outside the company to hold either post. Herman Miller UK earns an ISO 9002 registration. 1993 Herman Miller becomes a founding member of the US Green Building Council, the only office furniture manufacturer on the original roster. Alexander Girard dies. Herman Miller begins using cherry and walnut from sustainable sources in place of endangered rosewood on the Eames lounge chair and footstool. Herman Miller and Meridian earn ISO 9001 registrations. The company's first Environmental Conference is held. 1994 Herman Miller returns to the residential furniture market with the launch of Herman Miller for the Home. Its offering includes new designs as well as reintroduced modern classic furniture from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. The Herman Miller GreenHouse receives the Pioneer Award from the US Green Building Council (USGBC). The criteria used for the GreenHouse becomes the basis for USGBC's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification protocol. Herman Miller buys Righetti, a wholly owned subsidiary in Mexico. Herman Miller begins construction of its new Phoenix Designs building in Holland, Michigan. This building later becomes Miller SQA and, in 1999, the Herman Miller GreenHouse. Herman Miller is cited by Fortune magazine as one of the nation's 10 most environmentally responsible corporations. Herman Miller, Inc. introduces the Aeron chair and the New York Museum of Modern Art adds it to its 20th Century Design Collection. Herman Miller receives the National Wildlife Federation's 1993 Environmental Achievement Award for its commitment to earth stewardship. 1995 Herman Miller's website, www.hermanmiller.com, goes live. Max De Pree retires from the Board of Directors. J. Kermit Campbell resigns as CEO. Mike Volkema becomes CEO. Ergon 3, Equa 2, and Ambi chairs are introduced. 1996 The new Miller SQA ("simple, quick, affordable") manufacturing and office building begins operations. Arrio freestanding systems furniture is introduced. 1997 Herman Miller and Geiger Brickel, a high-quality wood case goods and seating manufacturer headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, enter a strategic sales alliance. For the ninth time in ten years, Fortune magazine names Herman Miller "most admired" furniture company in the US. 1998 Herman Miller for the Home introduces Meinecke rugs and increases its classics offering by adding Eames storage units, and pillows, scrims and table runners in textiles designed by Alexander Girard. Herman Miller introduces Passage furniture, Aeron and Ambi side chairs, Accents Collection ergonomic support products and CLT tables. Herman Miller International introduces the Verve free-standing desk system in Europe. Miller SQA introduces the Reaction work chair and the Aside side chair. Meridian, Milcare, Miller SQA, Coro and Performis – former subsidiaries – become part of Herman Miller, Inc. Milcare becomes Herman Miller for Healthcare. 1999 Herman Miller introduces the Kiva Collection, Caper chairs and Meridian 140 and 160 Series pedestals, and displays the Resolve system at NeoCon. Herman Miller for the Home introduces the Goetz sofa, and reintroduces the Nelson marshmallow sofa. The Aeron chair wins a Design of the Decade award from Business Week magazine and the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). Herman Miller acquires Geiger Brickel. 2000 2000 Herman Miller RED, an online enterprise focused on meeting the office furniture needs of small business in general and the growing Internet industry in particular, is launched. Large-scale shifts in the global economy necessitate the closing of the business in 2001. The Eames moulded plywood chair is named "design of the century" by Time magazine. 2001 Herman Miller Resolve system is added to the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection, and to the collection of the Brooklyn Museum of Art. The DOT (Design on Textile) programme, which allows customer customisation of work environments, is introduced, initially with the screens that are part of the Resolve system.. 2002 Herman Miller's C-1 corporate office facility renovation receives Gold LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building certification, only the 10th Gold standard awarded nationwide. Herman Miller introduces PostureFit, a major ergonomic breakthrough in seating designed to support a healthy posture and significantly improve lower back comfort. The PostureFit technology is offered as an option on Herman Miller's Aeron chair. A passive version becomes part of every Mirra chair. 2003 Herman Miller introduces Mirra, a high-performing, environmentally advanced work chair and the first piece of office furniture to be developed from its inception according to cradle-to-cradle principles. The Herman Miller MarketPlace receives Gold LEED Certification. At the time, it is one of fewer than a dozen buildings nationwide to achieve that distinction. 2004 Herman Miller receives GreenGuard Indoor Air Quality certification for most of its products. For the 16th time in 18 years, Herman Miller is ranked as the "Most Admired" company in the furniture industry in Fortune magazine's annual survey. The magazine also ranks Herman Miller among the most innovative companies in any industry, placing the firm 4th overall among the nearly 600 companies surveyed. For the fifth year in a row, Herman Miller ranks among Business Ethics magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens", one of only 29 companies to earn a place on the list every year since its introduction in 2000. Brian Walker becomes President and CEO. 2005 Herman Miller introduces the Celle chair designed by Jerome Caruso. Its Cellular Suspension offers pliable moulded polymer "cells" and loops to responsively flex in concert with the body's movements throughout the workday. Celle is manufactured using "green" energy, contains 33% recycled content, is 99% recyclable, and can be disassembled in fewer than five minutes using common hand tools. The Herman Miller Creative Office launches Sonare Technologies / A Herman Miller Company, and introduces the award-winning Babble, a sound management solution for confidential conversations. 2006 Herman Miller introduces Leaf personal light, an energy-efficient LED (light-emitting diode) table-top light. Its patented technology allows one to adjust the light intensity and warm-to-cool light colour. It utilises 40% less energy than even a 13-watt compact fluorescent bulb. Herman Miller completes construction of its European headquarters, VillageGreen, in Chippenham, UK. Its design receives an Excellent rating from the United Kingdom's Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM). Herman Miller unveils My Studio Environments, an innovative concept in open-plan workspace design. Designed by Doug Ball, it is the first open-plan office system designed according to the McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) Cradle to Cradle protocol and Herman Miller's Design for the Environment (DfE) criteria.. Convia / A Herman Miller Company is launched, and introduces its signature product called Convia Programmable Infrastructure. Leaf personal light selected for the permanent collections of the New York Museum of Modern Art and the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. 2007 Herman Miller invests in two factories and a national headquarters in China to support the company's rapidly expanding client base there and throughout Asia, selecting Ningbo as the site for its manufacturing operations and Shanghai, the largest industrial city in China, for its main office. 2008 Herman Miller acquires Brandrud Furniture, Inc., a Seattle-based manufacturer of healthcare furnishings. Herman Miller introduces the Embody chair designed by Jeff Weber and the late Bill Stumpf. Designed specifically for people who work for hours at computers, Embody is the first work chair that benefits both mind and body. 2009 Herman Miller introduces the Setu chair designed by Studio 7.5. By considering every molecule that makes up Setu, the designers advanced the science of dematerialisation, delivering higher performance with less material. Herman Miller begins to apply Herman Miller Performance System principles to its dealers' work. Benefits to customers include a 40% reduction in installation time. An alliance with Legrand North America, which sells Wiremold products, embeds our Convia product in the Wiremold ceiling and floor electrical boxes. This marks a turning point in the commercialisation of Convia. Herman Miller acquires Nemschoff, Inc., a Sheboygan-based manufacturer of high-quality, leading-edge healthcare furnishings. 2010 2010 Herman Miller introduces the Sayl chair designed by Yves Béhar. The design is as affordable as it is inventive. All components are reduced to their essential forms, achieving the highest performance possible with the least amount of material. Herman Miller becomes the first company in the furniture industry and one of the first companies in the world to fuel 100 percent of our facilities with renewable energy. This puts us nearly 50 percent of the way to carbon neutrality. Herman Miller acquires Colebrook Bosson Saunders (CBS), a London-based worldwide leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of ergonomic work tools. Herman Miller introduces Thrive, its comprehensive new portfolio of industry-leading, research-based ergonomic products. Thrive combines health-positive products with guidance on using them properly to give customers total ergonomic solutions. Herman Miller Supplier Diversity programme celebrates its 20th anniversary. In financial year 2010, Herman Miller's total spending with minority-owned businesses reached 14.5 percent, on par with the leaders in diversity among US corporations. Herman Miller introduces the Compass system for patient rooms designed by Gianfranco Zaccai and a team at Continuum. A system of wall-hung components, Compass makes significant advances in functionality, infection control, and ease and safety of use for caregivers. 2011 Herman Miller introduces Canvas Office Landscape. It is the work of several contributing designers, most recently Jeffrey Bernett and Nicholas Dodziuk of CDS in New York, building on the earlier work of Douglas Ball and Joey Ruiter. Canvas brings choice, harmony, and connection to all kinds of organisations and virtually any interior. Herman Miller enters into an agreement to acquire POSH, the leading manufacturer of quality office furniture in Asia. The combined brands represent one of the most extensive product portfolios in Asia Pacific. Herman Miller becomes the exclusive distributor in the US and Canada for Magis and Mattiazzi products. Both Italian firms known for their authored design and advanced craft, Magis and Mattiazzi expand choices for collaborative areas, indoors and out. "Merchants of Virtue" is published. Written by independent journalist and writer Bill Birchard, the book tells the stories of Herman Miller's efforts to care for the earth and be good stewards of the environment. Herman Miller partners with the MASS Design Group to lend resources and employee support to humanitarian healthcare projects in Rwanda and Haiti. 2012 Herman Miller relaunches the Herman Miller Collection, a comprehensive new portfolio of authentic modern designs that lets you select, furnish and create complete environments in a variety of settings, from the boardroom to the back garden. Taking its cue from the original collection, conceived in 1948 by George Nelson, the renewed portfolio represents “the continuing creation of a permanent collection designed to meet fully the requirements for modern living”. Herman Miller completes the acquisition of Asian office furniture manufacturer POSH, expanding its global footprint by adding extensive product design and distribution capabilities throughout China. 2013 Herman Miller acquires Maharam Fabric Corporation, a New York-based global designer and provider of high-quality interior textiles for commercial, healthcare and residential interiors. Herman Miller introduces the Mirra 2 work chair, the latest advance in high-performance seating. Mirra 2 is a leaner, lighter and more responsive chair that moves as one with the sitter, dynamically supporting even a person’s slightest movements. The Herman Miller Collection, in collaboration with the Eames Office, reintroduces the Eames Moulded Plastic Chair in fibreglass, a twist on the classic that leverages contemporary advances in environmentally sensitive material chemistry and manufacturing processes. Herman Miller unveils Living Office, a new vision for office design that creates synchronicity between people and the emerging landscapes of work. Living Office is a human-centred integration of the tools and products that enable work, which creates a more natural, desirable and productive work environment. Herman Miller introduces Locale, designed by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin of Industrial Facility. Locale enables the creation of dynamic, high-performance work neighbourhoods within open-plan environments. Herman Miller introduces Public Office Landscape, a system of surface, storage and seating components that allows people to move freely between conversations and tasks. Designed by Yves Béhar and his team at fuseproject, Public transforms every part of the office – including individual desks – into places for collaboration. 2014 Herman Miller announces Earthright, a new sustainability strategy that builds on more than 50 years of environmental learning and commitment. Earthright outlines several 10-year goals, such as achieving zero waste from all facilities, consuming 50 per cent less water, and reducing energy intensity by 50 percent. Herman Miller unveils a Healthcare Living Office, a modular, human-centred approach to healthcare environments that allows caregivers working across a health system to customise their methods, tools and spaces. Herman Miller introduces Renew, the latest in sit-to-stand tables. Renew offers a full range of supported movement to help people stay more active and healthier at work. Herman Miller acquires Design Within Reach, North America’s largest premium retailer of authored, modern design. The acquisition propels efforts towards strategic growth in the consumer channel. Herman Miller debuts the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) tool to help interior designers and customers obtain a product’s sustainability information, enabling people to make more informed purchasing decisions. 2015 Herman Miller Supplier Diversity programme celebrates its 25th anniversary. Herman Miller spends more than 15 per cent with minority- and women-owned suppliers, on par with the leaders in diversity among US corporations. Herman Miller launches Metaform Portfolio, a flexible and modular system with functional accessories that enables people to adjust their surroundings as needs evolve. The latest in material innovation, Metaform blocks are created from an abundant, environmentally resistant and recyclable material. Herman Miller opens PortalMill, a 16,000 m2 manufacturing and office space in the United Kingdom. The new facility enhances the company’s efficiencies and distribution capabilities across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. 2016 Herman Miller opens the New York Flagship, bringing the company’s family of brands under one roof for the first time. 5,600 m2 of retail, showroom and office space is anchored by the first Herman Miller retail store in North America, slated to open late 2016. Herman Miller forms a strategic partnership with naughtone, a UK-based company specialising in upholstered soft seating and other collaborative products. The partnership expands Herman Miller’s product portfolio, as well as its production and product development capabilities worldwide. Herman Miller introduces the Keyn Chair Group, a dynamic range of meeting and side chairs designed by forpeople to offer natural comfort to support people as they move and change postures. Herman Miller launches Exclave, a cohesive suite of products used to create collaborative environments across the office landscape. Designed by Continuum, Exclave empowers high-performance teams by integrating surroundings, furnishings and tools in collaborative ecosystems. Nemschoff launches a significant expansion of Nemschoff Classics, pieces inspired by mid-century designs that were once part of the company’s residential offering. Nemschoff Classics demonstrate Nemschoff’s institutional category leadership, and cater to the shift towards comfortable, residential spaces across all contract verticals. 2018 Andi Owen becomes President and CEO. Sign up for our newsletter Email sign up Follow Us United Kingdom © 2021 Herman Miller, Inc. Privacy Cookies Terms Accessibility Legal CA Supply Chains Act Sitemap Part of the MillerKnoll collective We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners. 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