George Nelson (1908–1986) was an American architect, and journalist industrial designer of American Modernism. While Director of Design for the Herman Miller furniture company, Nelson and his design studio, George Nelson Associates, Inc., designed 20th century modernist furniture.
Possessing one of the most inventive minds of the 20th century, George Nelson was the rare person who can envision what isn’t there yet. Nelson described his creative abilities as a series of “zaps” – flashes of inspiration and clarity that he turned into innovative design ideas.
One such “zap” came in 1942, when Nelson conceived the first-ever pedestrian shopping mall – now a ubiquitous feature of our architectural landscape – detailed in his “Grass on Main Street” article. Soon after, he pioneered the concept of built-in storage with the storage wall, a system of storage units that rested on slatted platform benches. The first modular storage system ever, it was showcased in Life magazine and caused an immediate sensation in the furniture industry.
In 1945, Nelson became director of design at Herman Miller, a position he held until 1972. While there, he recruited other seminal modern designers, including Charles Eames and Isamu Noguchi. Nelson also developed his own designs, including his trademark benches, lamps and clocks, as well as the first L-shaped desk, a precursor to the present-day workstation.
Nelson felt that designers must be “aware of the consequences of their actions on people and society and thus cultivate a broad base of knowledge and understanding.” He was an early environmentalist, one of the first designers to take an interest in new communications technology and a powerful writer and teacher. Perhaps influenced by his friend Buckminster Fuller, Nelson had the ultimate goal as a designer “to do much more with much less.”
© 2019. All images are copyrighted © by George Nelson or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only.
Possessing one of the most inventive minds of the 20th century, George Nelson was the rare person who can envision what isn’t there yet. Nelson described his creative abilities as a series of “zaps” – flashes of inspiration and clarity that he turned into innovative design ideas.
One such “zap” came in 1942, when Nelson conceived the first-ever pedestrian shopping mall – now a ubiquitous feature of our architectural landscape – detailed in his “Grass on Main Street” article. Soon after, he pioneered the concept of built-in storage with the storage wall, a system of storage units that rested on slatted platform benches. The first modular storage system ever, it was showcased in Life magazine and caused an immediate sensation in the furniture industry.
In 1945, Nelson became director of design at Herman Miller, a position he held until 1972. While there, he recruited other seminal modern designers, including Charles Eames and Isamu Noguchi. Nelson also developed his own designs, including his trademark benches, lamps and clocks, as well as the first L-shaped desk, a precursor to the present-day workstation.
Nelson felt that designers must be “aware of the consequences of their actions on people and society and thus cultivate a broad base of knowledge and understanding.” He was an early environmentalist, one of the first designers to take an interest in new communications technology and a powerful writer and teacher. Perhaps influenced by his friend Buckminster Fuller, Nelson had the ultimate goal as a designer “to do much more with much less.”
© 2019. All images are copyrighted © by George Nelson or assignee. Apart from fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act, the use of any image from this site is prohibited unless prior written permission is obtained. All images used for illustrative purposes only.
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| Mr George Nelson |
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| Nelson's first furniture collection for Herman Miller, totalling approximately 80 pieces, debuted in 1946 |
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| Nelson developed a complete graphic identity for Aluminum Extrusions of Charlotte, Michigan, 1950-59 |
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| Bottle and packaging for Calvert Distillers, a client from 1955-57 |
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| Herman Miller Fold-Out Brochures |
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| Herman Miller Fold-Out Brochures |
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| Poster and graphics for the movie The Misfits, for Seven Arts Productions, 1960 |
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| Poster designed for Foster and Kleiser of Los Angeles, 1976 |
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| How to See cover |
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| Cover design for Nelson's book, How to See- Visual Adventures in a World God Never Made, 1977 |
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| How to See |
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| Executive Home Desk, 1940s |
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| Home office desk, 1946 |
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| Ball wall clock, 1949 |
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| Chronopak Table Clock, 1949 |
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| Slat Bench, 1950 |
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| Ensemble de salon, 1950 |
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| Pill table clock, Zeeland, MI, 1950s |
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| Wall-hanging clock with pendulum and chime, 1950's |
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| Modernist Fire Tools, 1951 |
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| Bubble Wall Lamp, 1952 |
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| Three-Piece Sectional Sofa |
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| Nelson™ Bubble Lamp, 1952 |
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| Nelson™ Bubble Lamps, 1952 |
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| Sunburst Wall Clock, 1952 |
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| Lounge Chair for Herman Miller, 1954 |
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| Nelson Pedestal Stool |
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| Slat Bench, 1954 |
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| Coconut Chair and Ottoman |
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| Pair of Coconut Lounge Chairs from Craig Ellwood's Hunt House |
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| Marshmallow Sofa |
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| Marshmallow Sofa in red |
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| Pretzel Chair, 1957 |
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| DAF Swag Leg Dining Chairs, 1958 |
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| Nelson Swag Leg Desk |
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| L-Shaped Desk for Herman Miller, 1960's. |
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| Living Room Set for Herman Miller, 1960-69 |
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| Cantenary Chairs, 1960 |
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| Four-Bay Comprehensive Storage System (CSS), Zeeland, Mi, 1960s |
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| Office Desk, 1965 |
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| Platform Bench with Cowhide Cushions, Late 20th century Wood, Cowhide, Velvet |
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| Half "Nelson" Desk Lamp, 1977 |
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