herman miller launches new materials program

herman miller has just launched a new program designed to make all 1,600+ of its materials accessible, understandable and fun to explore. samples of all materials are bound into a 15-volume set of reference books, each the size of a hardcover novel that breaks with the industry tradition of three-ring binders with removable pages.

example of the large size swatches from the program.

books in the reference library are constructed using a proprietary process that welds the pages into a cover.

the new sample books are fabricated entirely of different polypropylene materials and thus can be recycled/reprocessed in their entirety with no disassembly required.

a new website, hermanmiller.com/materials, has also been launched and features all 1,600+ materials. a custom algorithm displays all swatches in continually shifting color arrangement governed by multiple search criteria.

the new materials program was designed by michael mcginn design office (NY), and is the culmination of a two year effort that coincides and supports an ongoing redeisgn of materials lead by color and materials consultant susan lyons (NY).