New exhibit showcases the art of office furniture design, focusing on Herman Miller

Office furniture exhibit emphasizes art of design

MUSKEGON, Mich. — The art of office furniture design is the focus of a new exhibition of Herman Miller Inc. products, prototypes, models and drawings that opens Friday.

The show at the Muskegon Museum of Art runs through Nov. 8 before making stops at museums in at least seven other U.S. cities.

The exhibit will showcase the development and evolution of many of the company’s significant designs of the past 80 years, including the Aeron desk chair.

The museum’s executive director, Judy Hayner, says the exhibit is not just about cool furniture — it’s about the way the company used design to improve people’s lives at the office.

Organizers also hope visitors see that there is more to Michigan’s economy than a struggling auto industry.