MillerKnoll: The combined legacy of two influential furniture brands

The year 1945 was a significant one for Herman Miller. It was when the American furniture manufacturer hired architect and designer George Nelson as the company’s first design director, after its president Dirk Jan De Pree saw Nelson’s Storagewall – the first modular storage system – in a magazine.

Nelson went on to create many innovative designs, such as the first L-shaped desk that is the precursor of office workstations. He also recruited many seminal modern designers to the Herman Miller fold, such as Isamu Noguchi, Alexander Girard, and Charles and Ray Eames whose series of moulded plywood furniture including the well-recognised – and much copied – Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman.

These designers have contributed to the shaping of the design landscape for generations, highlighted Kartik Shethia. To this list, he names contemporary designers such as Don Chadwick, Yves Behar, Studio 7.5 and Stefan Diez. Shethia, MillerKnoll’s managing director of APMEA (Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa), International Contract, was in Singapore in late-April for the Singapore launch of the MillerKnoll dealer showroom by the brand’s authorised dealer XTRA.

MillerKnoll is the result of the acquisition of Knoll International by Herman Miller in 2021. That pivotal moment in design history united two influential design companies. “As two industry leaders with rich design legacies, the merger of Herman Miller and Knoll under the MillerKnoll umbrella was a natural step forward. Through this combination, MillerKnoll is now the largest industry player with the broadest product portfolio, allowing us to deliver innovative design solutions more efficiently to our customer,” commented Ben Groom, MillerKnoll’s president of International Contract who was also in Singapore for the launch.

He continued: “While Herman Miller is renowned for its ergonomic expertise and innovative approach, Knoll excels in timeless elegance and architectural influence. The merger capitalises on these strengths, allowing us to cater to a wide range of customers while preserving the individuality and character of each.”

Knoll was founded as The Hans G Knoll Furniture Company by Hans Knoll, whose father was a successful second-generation furniture manufacturer in Germany. Hans moved to New York after World War II and established his first store in 1939 on East 72nd Street. From a distributor of Modernist furniture, the company became a manufacturer in the 1940s. One of its many timeless products is the Barcelona chair, designed by Mies van der Rohe in collaboration with Lilly Reich in 1929.

“Indeed, our history is punctuated by groundbreaking innovations. An icon of the modern movement, the Barcelona chair stands as a testament to the visionary genius of its creator, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. With its sleek lines and minimalist silhouette, the Barcelona chair embodies Mies’ most famous maxim ‘less is more’. Like the Aeron chair and Eames Moulded Plywood design story from Herman Miller, it exemplifies our commitment to pushing boundaries and redefining what’s possible in design,” said Shethia.

Aside from Herman Miller and Knoll, MillerKnoll also houses several other brands. In Singapore, XTRA offers products from the two key brands, as well as NaughtOne, Muuto, Gieger Furniture, Maharam and Colebrook Bosson Saunders. The portfolio continues to be updated with both old and new designs. During the recent Milan Furniture Fair that took place in April, Knoll re-issued Mies van der Rohe’s Tugendhat chair. Bauhaus architect Marcel Breuer’s iconic Wassil chair was also introduced in modern ultra-matte finishes.

“Around the same time, we launched the Nevi Height Adjustable Table by Herman Miller in Asia,” commented Groom. “These new releases embody our dedication to creating innovative products that enhance the human experience while pushing the boundaries of design standards. By offering a diverse array of products that cater to different needs and preferences, we continue to strengthen our position as a leader in the global design industry.”

Its diverse portfolio lets MillerKnoll stay ahead of shifts in user trends, one of which is the home office – a result of working remotely. “MillerKnoll offers a curated selection of products designed to elevate the home experience. From the versatile Ratio Height Adjustable Table and Cosm Chair by Herman Miller to the stylish Morse table and Polly chair by NaughtOne, our products combine ergonomic comfort with contemporary design, enabling individuals to create inspiring and functional workspaces in the comfort of their homes,” said Groom.

If you are thinking of improving your home office set up, here are six more pieces from the MillerKnoll family to consider.

NELSON SWAG LEG DESK FROM HERMAN MILLER

The design of the Nelson Swag Leg Desk started from bottom up. Designer George Nelson wanted to create a piece of furniture with sculpted legs made from machine-formed and prefinished metal. The solution? Using pressure to taper and curve metal tubes – a process called swaging. Nelson rotated the legs in opposite directions and joined them with a screw for strength. Solid walnut stretchers add stability and contrast to the 16-guage steel parts.

Designed in 1958, the desk’s size makes it suitable for small spaces and today’s compact desk equipment – usually just a laptop. A grommet was later added to keep cables out of sight so that the table remains a sleek feature piece in the room. The desk was also designed to be self-assembled to save on shipping costs.

WOMB CHAIR AND OTTOMAN FROM KNOLL

In 1941, designer Eero Saarinen won the Organic Design in Home Furnishings award from the Museum of Modern Art with Charles Eames for their progressive experiments with bent plywood. Following this, Saarinen was keen to create a comfortable chair through the shape of its shell rather than the depth of its cushioning, in which it cradles the user, hence its name.

The Womb armchair and ottoman makes for a good addition to the study when one wishes to read or use a mobile device in a relaxed posture. “The sweeping form offers endless postures and extra room for elbows, books or tablets,” Eero Saarinen had commented of his design. Limited production techniques and materials back in the day had Saarinen and Florence Knoll approaching a boat builder who was experimenting with fibreglass and resin to develop suitable manufacturing methods.

SET TABLE LAMP FROM MUUTO

Muuto is a Danish design company founded in 2006 that brings a fresh approach to Scandinavian design. Its products are modern and conducive to modern-day work-live conditions, making them suitable for both residential and commercial interiors. Even before the brand was acquired by Knoll in 2018, it already had international success and was sold in more than 50 countries.

One unique piece is the ingenious Set table lamp. The upward-facing light source bounces light off an aluminium shade, emitting a bright but indirect glow. To adjust the intensity of the lamp, one swivels the shade component along a series of threads on the lamp’s body. Made of aluminium, the lamp brings an industrial touch to interiors.

ENVELOPE CHAIR FROM GEIGER FURNITURE

Geiger Furniture was founded in 1964 by master cabinetmaker John Gieger in Toronto, Canada to provide architecturally designed office furniture. In 1999, Herman Miller acquired the brand to expand its options for contract design. One example is the Envelope chair, by American designer and artist Ward Bennett, known for his sophisticated brand of modernism that was described by some as “sensual minimalism”.

A sleek welded tubular frame traces the profile of a chair, upon which upholstery is wrapped around for comfort. The seat was designed in 1966 but has been in continuous production since – not surprising, considering its timeless aesthetic.

JETTY RUG FROM MAHARAM

Maharam was started by Russian-Jewish immigrant Louis Maharam in 1902 as a business hawking textile remnant from a pushcart in New York. Throughout the generations, the company evolved from a source of theatrical textiles for costumes and set design in the 1940s to a pioneer of innovative textiles for commercial interiors.

One of its long-term collaborators is Dutch industrial designer Hella Jongerius, who is known for fusing high-tech methods and craft. A new offering from the 2024 catalogue is the Jetty rug. Made from natural wood and handwoven in India, it blends muted neutral tones with geometric patterns.

SIDEBOARD CABINET FROM NAUGHTONE

A sideboard is ideal for the home office as it tucks away clutter but still offers a surface to display books and objects. MillerKnoll offers one such option – NaughtOne’s Sideboard. Founded in Yorkshire, UK, the brand came under the MillerKnoll umbrella in 2019.

The Sideboard cabinet’s minimal form, accented by gently curved sled legs, gives it a discreet presence. Users can also choose from a wide selection of finishes – coloured lacquer for a contemporary interior aesthetic, and walnut veneer with brush finish stainless steel legs for a Mid-Century Modern look.