15 Herman Miller Projects That Have Changed Our Way of Living

By the early 1960s, Herman Miller had expanded beyond home and office furniture into related areas including textile and object design. At the heart of the textile business for Herman Miller was Alexander Girard, who had been appointed in 1951 as the director for the newly formed Herman Miller Textile Division. In 1961, Herman Miller opened its first retail store, located at 8 East 53rd Street in New York City; the store, instead of showcasing the company's furniture lines, was dedicated to the textiles and decorative items that were brought together under the auspicious eye of Girard. The displays were masterfully created by Girard, who combined a riot of color and pattern—neon prints, bright stripes, boldly spotted accessories—into one space; the store acted as a marketing ploy that counteracted the cold, corporate nature of much of its furniture lines. (Textile & Objects storefront featuring silk-screened banner designed by Alexander Girard and dolls designed by Marilyn Neuhart, 1961.)