Slideshow
Slideshow

100 years of Herman Miller

Celebrating a century of innovation, design, and modern ​heirloom quality

Who was Herman Miller?

In 1923, the Michigan Star Furniture Company became what we now know as Herman Miller, when D.J. De Pree and his father-in-law (you guessed it—Herman Miller) purchased the company. De Pree renamed the company after Miller, who was a well-regarded businessman in the community.

De Pree's father⁠-⁠in⁠-⁠law and our namesake, Herman Miller.

A young D.J. De Pree, 1909.

Designer⁠-⁠driven: Founder D.J. De Pree (back, middle) with director of design George Nelson (seated, middle) and the cadre of designers they hired: Robert Propst, Alexander Girard, and Ray and Charles Eames.

Modern in the mid-century

By the middle of the 20th century, the name Herman Miller had become synonymous with “modern” furniture. De Pree first hired designer Gilbert Rohde in 1930, who ushered in an era of problem-solving modern design. A decade and a half later, he would hire George Nelson, who changed the course of the entire company. Design-driven—and with support from De Pree—Nelson brought in his contemporaries, such as Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, and Isamu Noguchi, to produce pieces that would become modern classics.

Herman Miller today

Today, in addition to our classic pieces and new designs for the home, Herman Miller is a recognized innovator in contemporary interior furnishings, work chairs, healthcare solutions, and technologies and services. In 2021, we became part of the MillerKnoll collective, an unparalleled platform of brands that design the world we live in.

A milestone 100 years in the making

Join us as we celebrate the anniversary of becoming “Herman Miller”

Artful Living​

We take the art of living seriously. See just what sets our brand apart with our more personalized approach to modern living.

Spark your imagination

Innovative Craft​

Herman Miller has set the bar for original design, innovative materials, and craft. Charles Eames once said, “the details are not the details. They make the design.”

Design Authorship

Thanks to a designer roster that draws on perspectives from around the world, we can offer incredibly unique problem⁠-⁠solving designs.

Environmental Advocacy​

We design for good by being a good steward of the environment. Find out what kind of work we’ve done to ensure this and what we’re still working toward as responsible citizens.