Top 5 George Nelson Contributions to the Herman Miller Collection

Nelson Coconut Lounge Chair

Introduced in 1955, the Coconut lounge chair is one artifact of the burst of creativity issued from George Nelson’s design studio and changing the look and feel of American furniture. George Nelson said he developed the chair “to give lounge seating comfort, together with great freedom of movement.” He succeeded. With its shallow sides and inviting curves, the chair is designed to let you sit in any position and move with surprising, and relaxing, ease.


Nelson Bubble Lamps

An assortment of lights in various spherical silhouettes, the Nelson Bubble Lamps add a touch of softness and luminosity to interiors. Designed by George Nelson in 1952, these elegant fixtures are fashioned from a sturdy, lightweight steel frame yet have a delicate, floating quality, whether in ceiling-hung, floor, table, or wall-mounted variations.


Nelson Swag Leg Desk

Swaging—the use of pressure to taper and bend metal tubes—is the integral technique behind the distinctive profile of this classic design by George Nelson. With a modest scale seemingly made for a modern world of laptops and smartphones, it offers a compact work surface, colorful cubbies, and molded drawers to manage clutter.


Nelson Platform Bench

Equal parts seat and surface, the Nelson Platform Bench emerged from George Nelson’s Fortune magazine office to join his first Herman Miller Collection in 1946. Made with polished chrome or ebonized wood legs, and available in three lengths with a choice of finishes, it serves as a bench, low table, or foundation for the Basic Cabinet Series.


Nelson Marshmallow Sofa

George Nelson’s statement-making sofa is one of the most recognizable pieces of furniture to adopt an early pop-art style. Composed of 18 individual 10-inch leather cushions that seem to float on the brushed steel tubular frame, the piece makes a statement in any room. The cushions detach for easy cleaning and can easily be switched any of the 12 available colors.