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George Nelson

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Biography George Nelson was born to Simeon and Lillian (nee Canterow) Nelson

on May 29th 1908 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA.

He spent his high school years at Hartford Public High School and graduated in 1924 at the age of 16.

Studied architecture at Yale University.

He graduated in 1928, and after lecturing at the Yale School of Fine Arts gained a bachelors degree of fine arts with honours in 1931.

He attended graduate studies at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and when graduating in 1932 received the renowned Rome Prize providing him a two year stipend to spend at the American Academy in Rome.

“The mission of the American Academy in Rome was, and still is to foster the pursuit of advanced research and independent study in the fine arts and humanities.”

He used this opportunity to travel extensively through Europe, to learn Italian and most notably to meet and interview some of the most prominent European Architects of the day.

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Influences on George NelsonDesigners in Europe

In 1932 Nelson won a Prix de Rome and along with it two years of study and travel in Europe, where he discovered the modern movement of architecture.

After completing this study Nelson turned to writing due to a lack of construction post-war and interviewed many designers of the emerging modern movement, including:

Le CorbusierLudwig Mies van der RoheWalter Gropius

“everything that is worth anything is always modern because it can’t be anything else” - George

Nelson

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D. J. DePree DePree was the president of

the Herman Miller company.

Nelson initially turned down the job DePree offered him, before DePree came back six months later after being unable to find anyone more suitable.

Nelson saw him as a teacher as he was his first real introduction to industrial design.

Nelson and DePree

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Frank Lloyd Wright Wright told Nelson architecture was “like a boy

falling in love with a girl”

“I followed him around like a puppy for about ten years. He was my hero, I wanted his secret” - George Nelson

Talliesin West, F. L. Wright

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Peak Moments

Nelson said his inspiration came from various defining moments throughout his life, not necessarily from doing anything in particular, but merely through being exposed to something or someone.

He drew on these memories and experiences (often unconsciously) to provide solutions for his design ideas.

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Despite his education in Architecture, he was most famous for his product design.

Interesting Fact

George Nelson’s Storage Wall

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Throughout his career George Nelson worked as:

Magazine writer on an architectural forum for ‘Pencil Points’ (now progressive architecture), he later was promoted to co-managing editor.Produced two books; ‘Industrial Architecture’ and ‘Tomorrow’s House.’Was the recognised by Life magazine when they produced a chapter article about his revolutionary storage wall.Was approached by Herman Miller to become their director of design.

George then went on to pioneer Office furniture and storage systems and became a farther of American Modernism.

Career and Work

Herman Miller Logo designed by George Nelson

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Famous For…

Sling Sofa designed by George Nelson

Tomorrow’s House by George Nelson

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The Open Plan Office First introduce in 1964

Herman Miller’s most successful series

Criticised as dehumanising design

Disowned by Nelson

Action Office

Nelson Bullpen Drafts

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Furniture Today

Nelson Coconut Lounge Chair

Nelson Basic Cabinet

Nelson Platform Bench

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References• Action Office [Photograph].(n.d) Retrieved April 10 2013 from

www.hermanmiller.com/content/hermanmiller/english/design-resources/images.html

• American Academy in Rome. (n.d.). About. Retrieved 10 April, 2013, from http://www.aarome.org/about

• George Nelson Archive. (2005-2009). George Nelson (1908-1986), USA: Biography and More. Retrieved 10 April, 2013, from http://www.georgenelson.org/georgenelsonbiography.html

• Gueft, O. (1975). George Nelson. Design Quarterly, 98/99, 10-19. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/

• Herman Miller Logo. [Logo]. (n.d.) Retrieved from http://logok.org/herman-miller/

• Nelson and D.J. [Photograph]. (n.d.). Retrieved 7 April, 2013, from http://www2.hermanmiller.com/discoveringdesign/#topic=19

• Nelson Basic Cabinet [Photograph].(n.d) Retrieved April 10 2013 from www.hermanmiller.com/content/hermanmiller/english/design-resources/images.html

• Nelson Bullpen Drafts [Photograph].(n.d.). Retrieved April 10 2013 from http://www.georgenelsonfoundation.org/george-nelson/works/basic-office-bullpen-509.html

• Nelson Coconut Lounge Chair [Photograph].(n.d) Retrieved April 10 2013 from www.hermanmiller.com/content/hermanmiller/english/design-resources/images.html

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References Continued• Nelson, G. (1979). George Nelson On Design. New York: Whitney Library of Design.

• Nelson, G., & Vitra Design Museum. (2008). George Nelson: Architect, Writer, Designer, Teacher. Weil am Rhein: Vitra Design Stiftung.

• Nelson Platform Bench [Photograph].(n.d) Retrieved April 10 2013 from www.hermanmiller.com/content/hermanmiller/english/design-resources/images.html

• Ochsner, J. K. (2012). George Nelson: Architect, Writer, Designer, Teacher [exhibition review]. Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, 71(4), 577. doi: 10.1525/jsah.2012.71.4.577

• Silberberg-Peirce, S. (1938). Talliesin West [Photograph]. Retrieved from ARTstor database.

• Sling Sofa. [Photograph]. (n.d). Retrieved 10 April, 2013, from http://www.georgenelsonfoundation.org/george-nelson/index.html#featured

• Time Inc. (1945, January 22). Storage Wall. Life Magazine. 18(4). 63-71. Retrieved from http://books.google.ca/books?id=KVMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38&dq=life+magazine+1945+22+jan&hl=en&ei=wXVeTfKHLIS8lQfs0MieDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-thumbnail&resnum=2&ved=0CD0Q6wEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false

• Tomorrow's House. [Photograph]. (1945) Retrieved from http://www.georgenelsonfoundation.org/george-nelson/index.html#writing

• Remmele, M.(2012, October 22)How the office became what it is today Retrieved from http://www.stylepark.com/en/news/how-the-office-became-what-it-is-today/335695

Lohr, S. (1997, August 11) Cubicles Are Winning War Against Closed Offices, New York Times Retrieved from http://partners.nytimes.com/library/cyber/week/081197cube.html

Abercrombie, S. & Nasatir, J.(1995) George Nelson: The Design of Modern Design: MIT press

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Credits Michael Kelly – Continuing Influences

Slides 10 & 11 Leon Du Plessis – Worked as/Famous for

Slides 8 & 9 Thomas Kay – Influences

Slides 3, 4, 5 & 6 Tessa Brownlee – Biography/Interesting Fact

Slides 1 & 7