When was Herman Miller founded and what was its original name?

Herman Miller was founded in 1905 under the name Star Furniture Company in Zeeland, Michigan.

How did the company become named Herman Miller?

In 1919, D. J. De Pree had become president, and in 1923 De Pree and his father-in-law Herman Miller (born Harm Mulder) acquired a controlling share. The company was then renamed the Herman Miller Furniture Company.

What shift in design did Herman Miller make in its early years?

Though the company started with traditional furniture, in the early 1930s it began embracing Modernist design under designer Gilbert Rohde—moving toward function-driven furniture rather than classical reproduction.

Which designers have been influential in Herman Miller’s design history?

Over its history, Herman Miller has worked with many leading designers including Gilbert Rohde, George Nelson, Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, Isamu Noguchi, Bill Stumpf, Don Chadwick, Studio 7.5, and others.

What relationship does Herman Miller have with Vitra?

Vitra was Herman Miller’s licensee in continental Europe for works by designers such as Charles & Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Isamu Noguchi. Their joint venture, Herman Miller AG, promoted design interests. While that partnership ended in 1984, Vitra continues to distribute those design lines in Europe and Middle East.

What is Herman Miller’s status in recent years?

Today, Herman Miller continues to innovate with ergonomic design, modern interiors, and sustainability, working with global designers. They also stock many of their ranges through official UK suppliers.

What are some of the key milestones in Herman Miller’s history?

Key milestones include founding in 1905, rebranding as Herman Miller Furniture Company in 1923, the arrival of modernist design influences via Gilbert Rohde, the contributions of Nelson, Eames, Girard, Noguchi; and later ergonomic innovations and sustainability efforts.

History of Herman Miller

Q: Who was Herman Miller?

Herman Miller was a Michigan businessman who became the namesake of the iconic furniture company. In 1923, D.J. De Pree purchased the Michigan Star Furniture Company and renamed it after his father-in-law, Herman Miller, who was a well-respected local entrepreneur. Although he was not the designer himself, his name became synonymous with the brand’s pioneering modern furniture.

Herman Miller, a globally recognised name in modern furniture design, has a rich and transformative history rooted in early 20th-century America. Founded in 1905 as the Star Furniture Company in Zeeland, Michigan, it evolved from a maker of traditional furniture into a pioneer of innovative, functional design. With a commitment to quality and collaboration, the company helped shape the landscape of modernist interiors worldwide.

Early Years

The origins of Herman Miller trace back to 1905, when it was established in Zeeland, Michigan, under the name Star Furniture Company, specialising in the production of intricately detailed, traditional bedroom suites. Four years later, in 1909, it was rebranded as the Michigan Star Furniture Company. That same year, 18‑year‑old Dirk Jan (D. J.) De Pree joined the firm as a junior clerk, embarking on what would become a distinguished career.

Who was Herman Miller?

A decade on, in 1919, De Pree had risen through the ranks to become president of the company. By 1923, he persuaded his father‑in‑law, Herman Miller (originally Harm Mulder, born 7 September 1867 in Hoogemeeden, Groningen, Netherlands), to lend him the resources needed for a controlling share acquisition. Together, they purchased the majority stake—roughly 51%—in the enterprise. In honour of Miller’s significant investment and leadership support (though he did not participate in daily operations), De Pree renamed the business the Herman Miller Furniture Company.

Modernisation

Previously the company’s output had been largely focused on reproducing classical, ornate furniture styles—a direction typical of West Michigan manufacturers at the time, and often criticised for merely imitating historical designs. It wasn’t until the arrival of modernist industrial designer Gilbert Rohde in the early 1930s that Herman Miller began to pivot towards ground breaking, functionally driven design—marking the start of its enduring legacy in modern furniture.

Herman Miller’s Ongoing Evolution

By the mid-20th century, Herman Miller had firmly established itself as a symbol of modern furniture design. This transformation began with the appointment of designer Gilbert Rohde, but it didn’t stop there. Around fifteen years later, George Nelson was brought on board, significantly influencing the company’s creative direction. With De Pree’s backing, Nelson invited influential contemporaries—including Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, and Isamu Noguchi—whose innovative contributions would result in some of the most iconic designs of the modern era.

By the mid-1980’s Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick became the latest designers to join this impressive list. It was no mean feat living up to the legacy of those who had come before them, but they exceeded all expectations with the release of the Aeron Office Chair in 1994, which went on to become Herman Miller’s best selling product.

Herman Miller Today

The company never stops innovating and continues to build partnerships with world renowned designers. Berlin’s Studio 7.5 (headed by Burkhard Schmitz, Carola Zwick, and Roland Zwick), is responsible for the Setu, Mirra 2, Cosm and Zeph – all designed as practical solutions to support the way the human body moves whilst at work.

Herman Miller & Vitra

No history lesson about Herman Miller would be complete without some explanation of Swiss furniture company Vitra’s involvement.

Vitra and Herman Miller share a longstanding history of collaboration, particularly centred around the celebrated designs of Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Isamu Noguchi. In the early stages of their relationship (1950s), Vitra operated as Herman Miller’s licensee across continental Europe. This cooperation later evolved into a joint venture known as Herman Miller AG, aimed at advancing their mutual design interests. Although the partnership came to an end in 1984, Vitra retained the rights to distribute the works of these iconic designers throughout Europe and the Middle East. Meanwhile, Herman Miller kept the global rights outside these regions, along with exclusive ownership of the Herman Miller brand.

This is why to this day you’ll see the ranges created by these Herman Miller designers, rebranded in the UK as Vitra Eames Chairs, Vitra Nelson Clocks and Vitra Akari Lamps.

Pictured here are Charles & Ray Eames meeting Vitra’s founders Willi and Erika Fehlbaum, in 1957.

Herman Miller Products from Office Chairs UK

As an official supplier of Herman Miller in the UK, we proudly stock many of their ranges, under both the Herman Miller and Vitra brands. Get started with these collections below: