the Cranbrook Connection, the philosophical roots of MillerKnoll

designing for people has always been at the center of Millennol’s design philosophy. this central philosophy began with an overarching thread: the Cranbrook Connection.

herman Miller’s Eames Lounge Chair (Charles & Ray Eames), Aeron Chair (Bill Stumpf & Don Chadwick), Knoll’s Barcelona Chair (Ludwig Mies van der Rohe), Tulip Chair (Eero Saarinen), and other design pieces that have become legends in their own right are all extensions of this philosophy. building on this legacy, in 2021, the company merged with Herman Miller to become MillerKnoll. more than just a corporate merger, the new name marks the beginning of a collective that has changed the landscape of contemporary design.

to understand the collective’s philosophy, we need to look at ‘The Cranbrook Connection’. this term refers to the design movement that took place in and around the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan, USA. founded in 1932, the academy was the center of modernist design in the United States, and its experimental and free environment allowed many designers to bring their innovative ideas to life.

designers such as Florence Knoll, Charles Eames, Eero Saarinen, Herman Miller and Knoll shared their philosophies and explored new directions in design. The furniture they created became internationally popular, functioning as tools to enhance people’s lives rather than just objects.

today, Miller & Knoll is not just a combination of Herman Miller and Knoll. it is now a global design community with 14 distinct brands, including Edelman, FilzFelt, Hay, Muuto, and more, united by a philosophy of “people-centered design.

millerknoll is about design that goes beyond beauty to pursue practicality and social value. and it all started with the Cranbrook Connection.

designing for people has always been at the center of Millennol’s design philosophy. this central philosophy began with an overarching thread: the Cranbrook Connection.

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