George Nelson – one of the great minds behind Vitra
George Nelson is one of the great names in the design world. His career was exemplary – from architect to design director at Herman Miller with his own design office. For decades, his designs played a major role in shaping Vitra's range. He created design classics such as the Ball Clock and the Coconut Chair from Vitra.
The architect was born in Hartford, Connecticut, USA, in 1908. He studied architecture at Yale University. A fellowship enabled him to study at the American Academy in Rome in Italy from 1932 to 1934. In Europe, he came into contact with the buildings and protagonists of modernism. In 1935, he joined the editorial team of "Architectural Forum", where he remained until 1944. That year, George Nelson published a seminal article there on housing and furniture design, which caught the attention of D.J. De Pree, head of the furniture company Herman Miller. Shortly afterwards, George Nelson became design director at Herman Miller. In this position, which he held until 1972, he became a key figure in American design: he brought Charles & Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi and Alexander Girard to Herman Miller. His collaboration with Vitra began in 1957. From 1946, he also ran his own design office and created a number of designs now regarded as icons of mid-century modern design. Architecture and exhibition design were further focuses of Nelson's office.
George Nelson died in New York in 1986. His archive is held by the Vitra Design Museum.
