Herman Miller Reintroduces a Nelson Classic

Design visionary George Nelson contributed many groundbreaking creations throughout his career. Decades after his death, his pieces live on in homes across the world, solidifying his designs as timeless pieces of functional art. For over 70 years, Herman Miller has been offering many of Nelson’s classic designs, from his Bubble Lamps and Day Bed collection, and the brand has recently announced their next foray into the Nelson canon with the reintroduction of the Nelson Cube Sofa Group. This will mark the first time the sofa and armchair will be available to both commercial and residential customers.

The Sofa Group was originally released in 1968 and serves as a quintessential example of Nelson’s ability to blend versatility and streamlined design with craftsmanship and refinement. Cube’s beautifully soft seating is contrasted by its architecturally rigorous wood frame, blending a formal look with a comfortable seat. The dichotomy of the two states allows for both structured sitting and a relaxed place to lounge, and users will find both the sofa and armchair structured enough to work and chat from, yet soft enough to lounge on. The square tufted cushions themselves are framed with crafted piping to match the architectural shape of the wood, while still providing warmth and comfort to the hard edges.

Like other Nelson pieces, this structurally striking Sofa Group represents Nelson’s mantra of the office feeling like one’s daytime living room and will sit as beautifully in a traditional setting as it does in a modern lounge.

'The Cube Group was originally marketed as a workplace design when it was first launched in 1968, but illustrated perfectly George Nelson’s belief that the office should function like a daytime living room', says Amy Auscherman, Director of Archives and Brand Heritage at MillerKnoll. 'The Cube Group sofa was faithfully reengineered using a vintage example and original George Nelson Associates design drawings from the Herman Miller Archives'.

The Sofa Group will be available in three sizes: an armchair, an 205.7 cm medium sofa or a large sofa at 233.7 cm. The frame is available in white oak, walnut or ebony finishes, with fabric options including leather and a wide variety of textiles from Maharam including wool and velvet. Customers can utilise these finishes to create a handsome walnut leather lounger or lighter piece using the textiles and oak.

The Cube Sofa is the latest Nelson classic to make a reappearance in the Herman Miller portfolio. Nelson’s Cane Bench was reintroduced earlier this year, and several reprints of iconic Nelson Office posters were released in the Autumn of 2021. The Cube Sofa Group launched this summer.

About Herman Miller

Since 1905, Herman Miller has been guided by a commitment to problem-solving designs that inspire the best in people. Along the way, Herman Miller has forged critical relationships with the most visionary designers of the day, from midcentury greats like George Nelson, the Eames Office and Isamu Noguchi; to research-oriented visionaries like Robert Propst and Bill Stumpf and groundbreaking studios like Industrial Facility and Studio 7.5. From the birth of ergonomic furniture to manufacturing some of the twentieth century’s most iconic pieces, Herman Miller has spent the last century pioneering original, timeless design that makes an enduring impact.