George Nelson – American Architect and Designer of Modern Furniture
George Nelson was born in Connecticut, USA in 1907. He graduated in Architecture from Yale University in 1931.
He then travelled to Rome in 1932 for a fellowship at the American Academy, while there he won the Prix de Rome for Architecture.
His valuable Architectural knowledge made him an excellent architectural critic and design theorist, and he became very influentual to design in post war years.
He created the shopping mall concept and the Integrated Office System.
He was editor of “Architectural Forum” from 1935 to 1944, then ran an architectural office in New York with William Hanby from 1936 to 1944.
He will also be remembered for discovering and shaping the careers of Charles and Ray Eames. As director of Herman Miller from 1946 he signed the Eameses to design furniture for the company which resulted in a very successful collaboration.
George Nelson Associates was formed with Gordon Chadwick in 1947 and specialised in industrial design.
His most successful designs for Herman Miller were 1946 – Basic Storage Components, 1958 Comprehensive Storage System and 1965 The Action Office System designed in conjunction with Bob Propst.
Marshmallow Sofa – co designed with Irving Harper
More George Nelson Resources
George Nelson books and web sites
