George Nelson was a leader in the Modern architecture and design movement in America. The renowned architect and furniture designer was largely based in Michigan, where he worked for more than 20 years as Herman Miller’s design director. Yale School of Architecture’s upcoming exhibition focuses on Nelson’s influence on design during and after his lifetime.
Originally compiled by the Vitra Design Museum in Germany, this comprehensive presentation–on display Nov. 8-Feb. 2–includes more than 120 objects designed by Nelson. Drawings, photographs, architectural models, and films will be interspersed with his furnishings and products. The exhibition is organized into five sections covering various aspects of the architect’s influential career. The largest section examines his designs for custom houses along with his numerous residential furniture and product designs. Other sections look at Nelson’s innovations in modernizing office environments, his work for corporations such as Herman Miller, his curation and design of several global exhibitions, and, finally, a collection of his writings, films, and many lectures.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Yale is hosting a symposium on Nov. 9-10 called George Nelson: Designs for Living. The program is free and open to architects, interior designers, product designers, and the general public. Educators, museum curators, architects, product designers, historians, and journalists will be presenting sessions that look at how Nelson’s work influenced the design industry while it was being created and how it continues to affect architecture and design today.
