Together with Charles & Ray Eames, George Nelson (1908-1986) was one of the founding fathers of American modernism. Born in Hartford Connecticut in 1908, Nelson was part of a generation of architects who revolutionised product, graphic and interior design transforming everyday objects into works of art.
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“Design is a response
to social change.”
George Nelson
Born in Hartford Connecticut in 1908, Nelson was one of the founding fathers of American modernism. Together with Charles & Ray Eames, Nelson was part of a generation of architects who revolutionised product, graphic and interior design transforming everyday objects into works of art.
Having graduated with a degree in Architecture at Yale University in 1928, Nelson was a firm believer in the modernist movement, whose core principles of form and functionality he applied fastidiously to every one of his designs.
Despite such a hard-line approach, Nelson’s sculpted designs caught the American public’s imagination, and in 1945 he was appointed design director at leading furniture and homewares manufacturer Herman Miller.
Design Timeline
1949 - Ball Clock
Capturing the joie de vivre of 1950s design, the Ball Clock was the first in a series of playful timepieces Nelson designed throughout the decade that have since become mid-century classics.
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1955 - Coconut Chair
Moulded from a durable glass fibre reinforced plastic, the unusual shape of this chair mimics that of a coconut cracked in half and is upholstered with luxurious black leather.
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1958 - Home Desk
Combining rich walnut, polished chrome and colourful elements, the Home Desk's slender silhouette is typical of mid-century design and features a series of concealed storage compartments.
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