September 23, 2015

To celebrate the launch of the Herman Miller Collection in Europe, Herman Miller presents the refined minimalism of designer Ward Bennett with Ward Bennett: The Essence of Everything, an exhibit of the late designer’s most iconic pieces, on view at designjunction during the London Design Festival.

A largely self-educated polymath, Bennett (1917-1983) drew inspiration from a range of eras and disciplines. “I learn from people,” he once said, referencing a long line of influences including Hattie Carnegie, Hans Hoffman, and Georgia O’Keefe. Before making a name for himself in furniture and interior design in the 1960s and ‘70s, he interacted with masters like Brancusi, Giacometti, and Le Corbusier in Europe, and shared a studio with sculptor Louise Nevelson. His own sculpture was exhibited at the Whitney's Annual Exhibition of 1950, and in 1960, the Museum of Modern Art mounted a one-man show of his jewelry designs. Whether designing office furniture for Brickel Associates, glassware for Tiffany & Co., or interiors for such notable clients as David Rockefeller or Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner, Bennett distinguished himself with an elegant approach and masterful appreciation of materials.

The Herman Miller Collection was created in 1948 by the company’s Design Director, George Nelson, with the goal of "a permanent collection designed to meet fully the requirements for modern living.” Today, the Herman Miller Collection consists of timeless pieces from the Herman Miller archives, with new furniture and accessories developed by this generation’s most talented designers, including Vincent Van Duysen, Sam Hecht and Kim Colin of Industrial Facility, BassamFellows, and others, providing a bridge between past and future.

Furniture designs by Ward Bennett anchor the Herman Miller Collection in Europe. For this launch exhibition, pieces including his I Beam table, Sled Chair, Envelope Chair, Rolled Arm Club, and Scissor Chair will be on display in a range of exceptional contemporary finishes, complemented by vintage objects and archival reading materials. Taken as a whole, the exhibition invites visitors to experience the refined elegance and timeless minimalism that distinguish the work of this master designer.

Ward Bennett: The Essence of Everything will be on display at designjunction, The College, 12-42 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4AP from 24 to 27 September 2015.

About The Herman Miller Collection
In 1948, Herman Miller Design Director George Nelson created the first Herman Miller Collection, with the goal of "a permanent collection designed to meet fully the requirements for modern living.” He understood that the Collection would evolve as human behaviour changed and new materials and manufacturing technologies emerged. Today’s modern living embraces the blending of life and work, with greater appreciation for contemporary design and mobile and ubiquitous technologies offering new freedom of choice in where and how people express their lifestyles and pursue their professions. The Herman Miller Collection welcomes and enriches this new era, as we endeavour to realise Nelson’s vision for the modern home, office, and public spaces.

About Herman Miller
Herman Miller’s inspiring designs, inventive technologies, and strategic services help people do great things and organisations perform at their best. The global company’s award-winning products and services generated approximately $2.1 billion in revenue in fiscal 2015. A past recipient of the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, Herman Miller designs can be found in the permanent collections of museums worldwide. Innovative business practices and a commitment to social responsibility have also helped establish Herman Miller as a recognised global leader. Herman Miller maintains the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s top rating in its annual Corporate Equality Index. Herman Miller is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MLHR.