Herman Miller

Herman Miller takes its name from a Michigan furniture company purchased in 1923 by D.J. De Pree and his father-in-law, Herman Miller, after whom De Pree renamed the business. De Pree hired Gilbert Rohde in 1930, bringing problem-solving modern design into the company, and in 1939 opened what it describes as America’s first stand-alone manufacturer’s showroom in Chicago, dedicated entirely to modern design.

A decade and a half after Rohde, De Pree hired George Nelson, who brought in Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard and Isamu Noguchi; their pieces became modern classics. Today the company produces classic and new designs for the home alongside work chairs, healthcare solutions, and technologies and services for interiors. Since 2021 Herman Miller has been part of MillerKnoll, the collective of design brands.