2. 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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3. Influences on George Nelson
Designers 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:
LeCorbusier
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Walter Gropius
“everything that is worth anything is always modern
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because it can’t be anything else” - George Nelson
4. 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 Nelson and DePree
was his first real introduction to
industrial design.
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5. 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
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Talliesin West, F. L. Wright
6. 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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7. Interesting Fact
Despite his education in Architecture, he was most
famous for his product design.
George Nelson’s
Storage Wall
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8. Career and Work
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.
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Herman Miller Logo designed by George Nelson
10. The Open Plan Office
First introduce in 1964
Herman Miller’s most successful
series
Criticised as dehumanising design
Disowned by Nelson
Action Office
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Nelson Bullpen Drafts
11. Furniture Today
Nelson Platform Bench
Nelson Coconut Lounge
Chair
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Nelson Basic Cabinet
12. 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
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http://www.georgenelsonfoundation.org/george-nelson/works/basic-office-bullpen-509.html
13. 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=wXVeTfKHLIS8lQfs0M
• Tomorrow's House. [Photograph]. (1945) Retrieved from
http://www.georgenelsonfoundation.org/george-nelson/index.html#writing 13
• 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
14. 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
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