George Nelson

Born in Connecticut, in the United States, George Nelson (1908–1986) was one of the most influential figures of the early, crucial period of modern design.

George Nelson was a leading figure in 20th-century interior design. Born in Connecticut in 1908, and after studying at the School of Architecture at the iconic Yale University, he continued his studies at the American Academy in Rome. He then began interviewing pioneers of modernism across Europe, which led him to write for the *Architectural Forum*. In 1944, Nelson wrote an article for the magazine on housing construction and furniture design, which caught the attention of D. J. DePree, director of the furniture company Herman Miller. This marked the start of his tenure as the brand’s creative director, a role he held until 1972.

It was in Europe, during his career, that George Nelson became known as one of the leading figures of American modernism through his major architectural works. During his career, he set up his own practice, through which he devoted himself to architecture as well as exhibition design. He believed that a designer’s role was to improve the world by drawing inspiration from the perfection of nature’s creations.

George Nelson’s creativity consequently influenced the manufacturer Vitra, for whom he designed products that have become design icons. These include, for example, the Ball Clock range of wall clocks, a flagship model of the 1950s.

It was during this period that the designer first produced the Bubble lamp range, now reissued as part of the Nelson collection by the brand HAY. These lamps reflect the American designer’s obsession with new materials and technologies. His geometric yet airy forms have become a symbol of innovation and modernism and are just as popular today as they were when first created, more than seven decades ago.

For Nelson, “design is a response to social change” – changes that have been etched into history thanks to the fact that such designs are still found in our homes today.