Titans of Design

Few cities can boast as prominent a place in the world of design as Grand Rapids. While design hubs like New York and San Francisco get more attention, Grand Rapids has deep roots in the industry and remains one of the field’s most vibrant destinations. Grand Rapids is home to three of the world’s leading office furniture designers and manufacturers: Steelcase, MillerKnoll (formerly Herman Miller), and Haworth. Collectively, they have played a profound role in shaping the look and functionality of contemporary workplaces. TowerPinkster, another Grand Rapids-based design heavyweight, specializes in architecture, engineering, and interior design.

Collectively, these titans of design figure prominently in Grand Rapids’ broad economic base. The city’s economic strengths are also evident in the healthcare, educational, technology, and manufacturing sectors, all of which incorporate aspects of design into their work.

Grand Rapids earned the moniker “Furniture City” in the late 19th century for its prominence in the industry. Its central location in the Midwest, access to abundant timber, and efficient transportation on the Grand River facilitated the industry’s rapid growth. As nearby supplies of timber diminished, the city’s aforementioned office furniture manufacturers filled the void, moving from wood to metal as their primary medium.

“Grand Rapids is a historic and vibrant city that truly celebrates and encourages creativity in every corner,” said Ryan Anderson, MillerKnoll’s Vice President of Global Research and Planning.

Herman Miller, now part of MillerKnoll, Inc., has a rich history that spans over a century, marked by innovation, design excellence, and a commitment to sustainability. The firm originated in Zeeland, Michigan in 1905 as the Star Furniture Company, which made high-quality bedroom furniture. It adopted the name “Herman Miller Furniture Company” in 1923, taking on the name of one of the company’s major shareholders. During the 1930s, Herman Miller shifted to modern furniture design. The firm became known for its collaborations with well-known designers including Gilbert Rhode, Alexander Girard, and, most famously, Charles and Ray Eames, who created the Eames Lounge Chair, long the gold standard in upscale office furniture.

Comfortable, beautiful, and practical, the Eames Lounge Chair made use of modern materials (molded plywood, leather upholstery) in an homage to the traditional English club chair. The chair consists of a base, a headrest, and a backrest with cushions that can be removed for cleaning. The Eames Lounge Chair became a milestone in modern design. In 1956, an Eames became part of the permanent collection at New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

Herman Miller pioneered the home office, selling desks as early as the 1940s that were branded as ideal “for home or office.” Like the Eames, the firm’s ergonomically pioneering Aeron Chair, noted for its comfort and flexibility, has long been a home office fixture.

“One of the most innovative solutions that we’ve released recently is Bay Work Pod by Herman Miller,” said Anderson. The aim of the Bay Work Pod is to create a space that enables workers to focus on a task or take a video meeting without that space being too confining or uncomfortable. The Pod is a unique enclosure that comfortably supports focused work without causing people to feel cut off from their peers or like they’re isolated in a sound chamber.”

In 2021, Herman Miller joined with Pennsylvania-based competitor Knoll to form the MillerKnoll collective. The firm appears regularly in the Fortune 1000. The MillerKnoll collective includes a cluster of brands “united by our to redefine modern for the 21st century by building a more sustainable, equitable and beautiful future for all,” said Anderson.

“In the past, offices were primarily designed to supervise work and reflect leadership status,” said Anderson. “Modern workplaces aim to foster a sense of belonging by focusing on inclusive design practices and creating environments that feel less hierarchical and institutional,” said Anderson. ““At the core of our efforts is the goal of creating spaces that foster stronger relationships within organizations,” he continued.

Steelcase began operating in 1912 as the Metal Office Furniture Company, focusing on desks and filing cabinets. The company, which is a fixture on the annual Fortune 500 list, adopted its current name in 1954.

“Steelcase has always been committed to human centered, inclusive design. We have been consummate students of user behavior,” said Meg Bennett, Global Design Principal for Steelcase. She emphasizes the degree to which Steelcase helps their clients tailor workspaces to a wide range of users.

In this vein, Steelcase has been developing products that require minimal adjustment or simply adjust automatically. Their line of Karman chairs respond naturally to the movements of the body and do not require adjustment.

“Over the last five years, we have experienced unprecedented change in the work environment,” Bennett said, citing both the pandemic and advent of AI technologies. Steelcase has been focused on developing products that facilitate interpersonal engagement in the workplace, such as their Ocular Collection, which installs tables, chairs, and technologies in a way that creates more equitable engagement between remote and in-person participants.

“On any given day, you might want [space to] put your feet up or have a lounge chair, or an environment that supports your laptop or your cup of coffee. Other days, you might want a desk where you can put your head down or raise the screens up,” Bennett said, describing the “ecosystem of spaces” necessary in a modern office. The Steelcase Flex collection was created to address the rise of flexible, activity-based workspaces, providing modular components that can be customized for collaborative environments.

Steelcase is the largest of Grand Rapids’ multibillion dollar furniture firms and has the largest international footprint.

Haworth was founded in Holland, Michigan in 1948 as founder G.W. Haworth’s woodworking shop before venturing into office furniture. Under the leadership of G.W.’s son Dick Haworth, the firm, which remains privately held, developed an extensive line of office furniture focused on seating and storage. In the 1960s, Haworth developed customizable office layouts with “Uni-Group,” which consisted of pre-wired cubicle wall panels. Haworth refined this system further in the 1980s with its “Crossings System,” a modular furniture system that expanded the ability of companies to make their office spaces adaptable. The firm is an industry leader in creating flexible, human-centered workspaces.

In the 2010s, Haworth acquired Italian luxury brands including Cassina, Cappellini, and Poltrona Frau, diversifying the company’s holdings into a wide range of work environment, health systems, universities, government entities, corporate settings, and home offices.

In addition to more comprehensive workplace solutions, Haworth has introduced several notable pieces of office furniture. The Zody Chair is known for its ergonomic features, most notably Live Lumbar™ technology, which automatically adjusts to the user’s body shape.

Dick’s son Matthew Haworth serves as chairman of the company, which employs roughly 7,500 people. Haworth emphasizes sustainability, achieving zero waste landfills in all its U.S. manufacturing plants. A representative of Haworth could not be reached for comment.

“In Grand Rapids, we are amongst a community of large furniture manufacturers,” Bennett said of the city’s status as a design hub. “We are surrounded by partners who are breeding innovation.”

The region’s college and universities provide new talent for Grand Rapids’ design firms. Kendall College of Art and Design at Ferris State University produce prospective employees with training in fields such as industrial and interior design. KCAD also offers a Master of Architecture program.

Local organizations like Design West Michigan promote the significance of design in the local economy through networking events, educational programs, and advocacy.

The ArtPrize, the annual international art competition based in Grand Rapids, is the largest of its kind in the world. The competition has made the city’s name synonymous with artistic innovation. The Grand Rapids Art Museum and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts showcase art and design for a broader audience in the community.

Recently, interior and landscape design firm TowerPinkster, headquartered at 4 East Fulton Street, expanded its base of engineers by merging with Comprehensive Engineering, a Grand Rapids-based firm specializing in mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering. The merger makes TowerPinkster Western Michigan’s largest engineering firm in the field of commercial building.

“We can now offer a more coordinated and wholistic approach to the built environment,” said Jason Novotny, Vice President of Design for TowerPinkster.

Recent designs by TowerPinkster can be seen on the campuses of Byron Center public schools, Aquinas College, and the Western Michigan University.

“We’ve got a really transformational project at the Grand Rapids Public Museum. That project had great community input through different stakeholder groups. It will transform how the Public Museum interacts with the community. It will be a much warmer, more accessible space,” Novotny said.

As Grand Rapids continues to evolve, its design legacy remains at the heart of its identity. Whether through the furniture we sit on, the spaces we work in, or the products we use, Grand Rapids’ design excellence is a testament to the enduring power of creativity and craftsmanship that began on the banks of the Grand River and continues to resonate around the world. Each of these companies not only carries the city’s legacy forward but also innovates and shapes the way we live and work today.