The acclaimed chronicle of the rich history of this innovative furniture company, from its founding in the early twentieth century to today

Rev. ed. of: How to see. Boston: Little, Brown, 1977.

Merchants of Virtue is about a band of people who determined to make their company a good global citizen. Herman Miller has been looking at some of the critical questions of our time—for the past 35 years. Is sustainable business sustainable? In an age where sustainability is key to future success, businesses must incorporate new strategies towards sustainability in order to give them the competitive edge. But, can employees in global companies make great products, take care of the environment, benefit society, and make good money—all at the same time? The answer, as in so many stories of people working together, comes down to a principle of management. At Herman Miller, sustainability triumphs because people commit and recommit themselves to the guiding light of company values and in turn changed the world of business. Here author Bill Birchard goes deep inside the organization to find out how Herman Miller has been accomplishing this goal—from the individuals who have become passionate about this topic—to the designers who incorporate ideas of sustainability into every product they create. Birchard shares not only the stories—but the details of how every this remarkable effort has been accomplished.

Herman Miller, the company that led the office furnishings revolution, is a name synonymous with the best modern residential and contract furniture. Classics by super-designers Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Isamu Noguchi and others can still be purchased from the Herman Miller for the Home collection. Their designs, plus others, are described here in detail and shown in color and black and white photographs, with original drawings by Nelson and the famous Frykholm picnic posters. A current price guide is included.

A classic account on the work and legacy of the forefront modernist designer traces his more than seven-decade career while offering insight into his creation of accessible, stylish, and problem-solving furniture.

"Herman Miller, Inc., based in Zeeland, Michigan, is a major American manufacturer of office furniture and equipment, as well as furniture for the home. It is notable as one of the first companies to produce modern furniture and, under the guidance of Design Director George Nelson, is likely the most prolific and influential producer of furniture of the modernist style. Among classic Herman Miller products are the Equa chair, Aeron chair, Noguchi table, Marshmallow sofa, and the Eames Lounge Chair. Herman Miller is credited with the invention of the office cubicle (originally known as the "Action Office II") in 1968 under then-director of research Robert Propst. Herman Miller holds a unique position among furniture manufacturers for having cultivated the talents of a large number of modernist designers, producing a significant number of pieces that are now considered icons of industrial design."--Amazon.