As a designer, teacher, and writer, Nelson saw his work as a series of creative “zaps,” which he described as being flashes or sudden realizations that he would translate into design ideas. The first true “zap” occurred in the 1930s when he was studying architecture in Rome. He began traveling Europe in order to interview top architects with the hope of getting his written pieces published. This ended up being one of the best decisions he ever made, as it helped kick off his career.

After he became Herman Miller's director of design in 1945, he decided to form his own design firm, George Nelson & Associates. From then on, he created a number of lights, furniture pieces, and everyday objects that have become recognizable icons. Below, we’ve gathered some of our favorites and included everything you need to know—plus, you can even shop them.

Lighting the Way

Putting a Playful Spin on Seating

Taking Everyday Objects to a Whole New Level