Tag Archives: Herman-Miller

Herman Miller’s Aeron Just Broke Its Decades-Long Neutrals-Only Rule

Posted on by

Office chairs have largely operated on a color vocabulary of one. Black. Occasionally dark gray. The reasoning is defensible enough: a chair meant to work in any office, boardroom, or home studio needs to disappear into the background, and neutrals are the safest way to guarantee that. The Aeron has lived by that rule since its 2016 remaster, offering four restrained options that leaned charcoal and graphite and asked very little of the rooms they occupied.

Herman Miller is breaking from that constraint in 2026, though only just. The two new Aeron colors, Jasper and Nightfall, aren’t a departure toward the bold or the playful. Jasper is an earthy olive green calibrated to read almost as a neutral while gesturing toward the biophilic design sensibility that has been moving through workplace interiors for several years. Nightfall is a sophisticated midnight blue already present across the MillerKnoll portfolio, added partly to make specifying a cohesive space easier.

Designer: Herman Miller

The full palette now sits at six hues, Onyx, Graphite, Carbon, Mineral, Jasper, and Nightfall, all drawn from natural references and all quietly confident about their ability to belong without demanding attention. For designers specifying a lounge, a studio, or a home office with a more considered material palette, those two additions open the door to pairings that the existing neutrals couldn’t quite reach. The chair’s structure and ergonomics stay entirely intact.

But the more substantive changes in this update aren’t visible from across the room. The team mapped where the chair carried the most weight and substituted in lighter materials, including post-industrial recycled content and bio-based nylons, with the result that the chair’s global average embodied carbon drops by 12% compared to the previous version.

That 12% follows years of prior reductions. In 2021, the Aeron became the first Herman Miller chair to incorporate ocean-bound plastic. As of June 2026, the company has diverted more than 660 metric tons of that material since its last tally in 2023, the equivalent of roughly 79 million plastic water bottles. Today, the Aeron is composed of more than 50% recycled content and is up to 91% recyclable, carrying both BIFMA Level 3 and Indoor Advantage Gold certifications.

Size inclusivity received a quiet update as well. The Aeron has always come in three sizes, A, B, and C, covering nearly the full range of human body types. Recent testing confirmed that the largest size, C, now meets all structural requirements to support users up to 400 lb, a formal expansion of what the existing design had been capable of without being officially stated.

The new Aeron is debuting at Fulton Market Design Days in Chicago, June 8 through 10, as part of an exhibition called “Living with Change.” It’s available now through hermanmiller.com, Herman Miller showrooms, and MillerKnoll dealers, starting at around $1,520 in base configurations and $2,050 for fully specified versions. The new colors arrive on a chair that already sells one unit every 17 seconds, which says most of what needs to be said about whether the core design needed changing.

The post Herman Miller’s Aeron Just Broke Its Decades-Long Neutrals-Only Rule first appeared on Yanko Design.

Herman Miller Finally Built a Gaming Desk That Matches Its Chairs

Posted on by

If you’ve ever spent real money on a Herman Miller chair, you know the particular satisfaction that comes with it. It’s not just the lumbar support or the breathable mesh. It’s the feeling that someone actually thought hard about how you sit, and then engineered accordingly. That philosophy is exactly what’s been missing from the gaming desk category for years, and now Herman Miller has stepped in to fill the gap with the Coyl Gaming Desk.

The Coyl is the brand’s first desk built specifically for gamers, which is a little surprising considering Herman Miller Gaming has been around since 2020. Better late than polished, I suppose. But after seeing what they’ve put together, it’s clear they spent that time observing how people actually use their spaces, rather than just rushing to market with something forgettable.

Designer: Herman Miller

The most talked-about detail is the rotary dial. While traditional sit-to-stand desks feature up-down toggle switches, the Coyl Gaming Desk features a rotary dial, a round knob you turn to raise or lower the height, allowing for greater control and seamless adjustment. That feels like a meaningful upgrade over the toggle switch that costs pennies and has somehow survived on products that cost over a thousand dollars. Inspired by premier audio equipment, the dial features detent notches to allow players to easily identify the exact setting for their preferred position. It’s a small change that makes a surprisingly big difference. When your hands are already on autopilot during a long session, not having to hunt for a button matters more than you’d think.

The desk also has a built-in cable management trough tucked underneath toward the back, which handles the chaotic tangle of wires that plagues most gaming setups. It’s one of those features that seems obvious in hindsight but is inexplicably absent from most desks in this category. Whoever decided to finally make this standard deserves a quiet round of applause. There are also built-in hooks for frequently used items, allowing players to stay locked into the play experience, and adjustable glides on the top of the desk feet allowing users to level the desk.

Where things get genuinely interesting is the optional perforated back panel. For those who want to further personalize their set-up, Coyl includes an optional perforated back panel with a smart collection of accessories, including controller holders, phone docks, small shelves, and planters. Think of it as a pegboard-style system you can actually curate. These add-ons can be rearranged as setups evolve, which is the kind of modularity that tends to make a product feel useful long-term rather than dated in two years. It’s also the design detail that signals what Herman Miller is really going after here: the desk isn’t meant just for gaming, it’s meant for the modern person who games, works, creates, and streams, often from the same surface.

The Coyl comes in four desktop finishes: black, white, walnut, and ash, with the rounded laminate top giving the whole thing a cleaner look than the sharp-cornered, RGB-saturated aesthetic that dominates most gaming furniture. You can program up to four height presets, which is useful if your desk doubles as a standing workstation during the day. The base version starts at $1,095, rising to $1,495 with the cable trough and $1,635 if you want the back panel included.

That price point will be a sticking point for some people. Gaming desks at a fraction of the cost do exist and do the job adequately. But the Coyl isn’t really competing on value, it’s competing on intention. The same way a Herman Miller chair isn’t for someone who just needs somewhere to sit, the Coyl is for someone who wants their desk to be an actual design decision and not just a surface with legs.

Is it groundbreaking? Not technically. The features themselves aren’t revolutionary. But the execution and the restraint are notable, especially from a brand entering a product category already crowded with competitors trying too hard to look cool. Herman Miller didn’t try to out-RGB anyone. They just made something that looks like it belongs in the same room as their chairs, which is, frankly, exactly what the gaming space has been waiting for.

The post Herman Miller Finally Built a Gaming Desk That Matches Its Chairs first appeared on Yanko Design.

Herman Miller Gaming x FAILE artistic gaming chairs and character joysticks are impressive

Posted on by

Herman Miller is known better for its consortium of office chairs than for gaming chairs. But its gaming division: Herman Miller Gaming, has a new, artistic vision to turn some eyes its way. The furniture giant has partnered with FAILE, a brainchild of Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller, to revive the nostalgia of the Arcades, Ataris, and Nintendos of the ‘80s through painting and printmaking approach on chairs, wooden Joysticks, and printed posters.

The initial idea for Herman Miller and FAILE collaboration was to work with the prints collection of the former. McNeil and Miller, however, saw varying opportunities in the furniture maker’s gaming repertoire and besides gaming-inspired printed posters and tangible painted joysticks with whimsical game-like characters, they have gone ahead to give colorful art love to Herman Miller’s ergonomic gaming seat.

Designer: Herman Miller Gaming x FAILE

Brooklyn-based collaboration between artists Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller, FAILE, has been blurring the lines between fine art and popular culture through painting and printmaking. The choice of material is little of significance, since their collaboration since 1999, the two artists have worked with a range of materials ranging from traditional canvas to sculptures, from window pellets to wooden boxes and their idea of transforming the Embody Gaming Chair into a piece of exceptional art is therefore no surprise.

McNeil and Miller have characterized 12 variants of the Embody, using its seat and back as the canvas of distinction similar to skateboard decks. According to the duo, through the artwork, they intend to bring to ‘Herman Miller Gaming that which was not in the digital realm but captured some of the character making of gaming.’ This also extends into the creation of joysticks, which have a tactile wood feel and personality of their own that uniquely comes to life depending on the setting they’re used in.

FAILE and Herman Miller have created 100 unique characters, based on drawings and doodles. Each of these is handcrafted and painted with hand for uniqueness. While the chairs are designed exclusively for the Herman Miller Gaming archives, and are not available to purchase. Joysticks and prints are available for preorder and will go on retail starting October 1 for $995 and $250 respectively. If you want an experience of the artistic collection before committing to it, you can check them out in an installation in New York from September 27 through September 29.

The post Herman Miller Gaming x FAILE artistic gaming chairs and character joysticks are impressive first appeared on Yanko Design.

Sustainable Luxury: Herman Miller’s Bamboo Upholstery for the Eames Lounge Chair

Posted on by

Welcome to the first Furniture Friday, where we’ll explore the furniture that shapes our lives each week. Today, we begin with a design icon, the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Herman Miller. This legendary piece has captivated enthusiasts for decades with its blend of elegance, innovation, and comfort. From its rich history to its meticulous design, the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman are timeless symbols of modern living.

Designer: Herman Miller

A Timeless Classic: The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman journey began in the 1940s when Charles and Ray Eames were exploring new materials and techniques in furniture design. Their pioneering use of molded plywood and ergonomic principles set the stage for this iconic piece. Introduced to the public on the Arlene Francis “Home” show on NBC in 1956, the chair quickly became a design sensation.

Charles and Ray aimed to create a chair that offered a warm, welcoming appearance and exceptional comfort. They crafted a luxurious and functional design by merging the aesthetics of a traditional club chair with modern materials. This innovative use of molded plywood showcased their ability to push the boundaries of furniture design.

Produced by Herman Miller in 1956, the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman have remained true to their original design while incorporating new materials and manufacturing techniques. This consistency has ensured their status as timeless pieces of furniture. The chair’s popularity extends beyond homes and offices, having appeared in numerous TV shows and films, such as “Frasier,” “Iron Man,” and “Tron: Legacy,” cementing its place in popular culture.

Design and Craftsmanship

The Eames Lounge Chair features a shell constructed from layers of molded plywood, providing a solid yet lightweight framework that supports the body comfortably. The plywood is finished with a rich veneer, adding natural elegance to its modern silhouette.

The chair includes several distinct components:

  • The seat and back cushions are identical in construction and are interchangeable. They are made from high-density foam wrapped with a blend of down and feather, ensuring comfort and durability. The cushions are upholstered in premium leather or high-quality fabric and secured to the plywood shells with snaps to maintain their position.
  • The back shells, crafted from molded plywood, are designed to secure the back cushions and provide structural support. They are connected to the base with cast aluminum back connectors and reinforced with rubber spacers to ensure flexibility and resilience.
  • The chair’s arms are constructed from 12-gauge steel plates, cushioned with foam rubber, and covered with fabric or leather to match the seat and back cushions. These arms provide sturdy support while enhancing the chair’s overall comfort.
  • Shock mounts made from resilient natural rubber attach the backrest to the seat, allowing for a slight flex that increases comfort without compromising support. This design element is crucial for the chair’s ergonomic functionality.
  • The chair’s base features a five-point star design made from die-cast aluminum, which includes a built-in swivel mechanism. This base is designed for stability and ease of movement, with stainless steel glides that adjust to ensure the chair remains level on various surfaces.

The ottoman, designed to complement the lounge chair, shares the same construction principles. Its shell is made from molded plywood and features high-density foam cushions upholstered in matching leather or fabric. The ottoman’s base mirrors the design of the chair’s base, ensuring a cohesive and stylish appearance.

Unique Appeal and Comfort

The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman are distinguished by their exceptional comfort and unique charm. Their curved, ergonomic design conforms to the body’s natural contours, providing excellent support, particularly in the lumbar region. This makes the chair ideal for long periods of sitting.

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

The foam and leather upholstery combination enhances the overall sitting experience, creating a luxurious feel. Generous proportions and thoughtful design details, such as the angled seat and backrest, contribute to the chair’s inviting and relaxing nature.

Meticulous attention to detail in the production process ensures each piece is of the highest quality, with every seam and joint carefully constructed. This craftsmanship adds to the chair’s aesthetic appeal and durability, embodying the Eameses’ philosophy of seamlessly combining design and function.

Vision Then and Now

The 1963 ad for the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, featured in Progressive Architecture, captures the essence of the chair’s design philosophy. The ad emphasizes “peace of mind and ease of body” in a chair “you live in rather than sit in.” This messaging highlights the Eameses’ focus on creating a piece of furniture that goes beyond mere functionality to enhance the user’s quality of life. The visual design of the ad, with its clean lines and modern aesthetic, underscores the timeless charm of the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman.

The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman were featured in a 1963 ad in Progressive Architecture magazine.

Today, the vision remains unchanged, but the context has evolved. Modern interiors continue to embrace the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman for their unmatched comfort and iconic design. The contemporary photograph of the chair in a modern living space shows how seamlessly it integrates into today’s homes, maintaining its status as a symbol of sophistication and comfort. The chair’s ability to adapt to changing styles while retaining its core design principles is a testament to the enduring genius of Charles and Ray Eames.

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman in Russet Walnut

Introducing Sustainable Materials

This is the perfect segue to Herman Miller’s exciting new development. Herman Miller introduces bamboo-based upholstery to the iconic Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, reflecting its ongoing commitment to sustainability across its portfolio.

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman with bamboo-based leather alternative

Herman Miller expands its offering for the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman to include a bamboo-based leather alternative. This plant-based material is derived from bamboo, known for being one of the world’s most sustainable resources due to its rapid growth, higher CO2 absorption rate, and minimal water requirements.

A Sustainable Innovation

The new bamboo-based leather alternative is softer, more durable, scratch-resistant, and more colorfast than traditional materials. It has been used in designer handbags, luxury automotive interiors, and now, as an upholstery option for the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman. Upholstering the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman in material derived from bamboo helps reduce the material’s carbon footprint by up to 35 percent, contributing to a lighter environmental impact.

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman using bamboo-based leather alternative

Maintaining Quality and Aesthetics

The new upholstery is available in ivory, russet, and black, each of which can be paired with any existing shell types—walnut, Santos Palisander, ash, or oak—in standard and tall sizes. This ensures that the iconic design and high-quality standards of the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman are upheld while integrating modern sustainability practices.

Legacy and Modern Sustainability

Noah Schwarz, vice president of product design for Herman Miller, emphasizes the significance of this innovation: “Charles and Ray Eames pioneered the use of molded plywood in furniture, one of the central material innovations of their time. Today, Herman Miller is among the first furniture brands to offer a plant-based leather alternative—made almost entirely from bamboo. The two materials come together in the latest offering of the iconic Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, upholding the aesthetic and quality standards that have defined the chair for nearly 70 years.”

The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman are celebrated for their timeless charm and enduring quality, making them a benchmark for furniture design and comfort. This new development continues the legacy of the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, combining timeless design with modern sustainability, ensuring that these iconic pieces remain relevant and cherished for generations to come.

The post Sustainable Luxury: Herman Miller’s Bamboo Upholstery for the Eames Lounge Chair first appeared on Yanko Design.

The Perfect Gaming Throne: An In-Depth Look at the Herman Miller Vantum Gaming Chair

Posted on by

The Vantum Gaming Chair by Herman Miller combines bold design with serious comfort, making it an ideal choice for gamers. Designed for long gaming sessions, it features an adjustable headrest, flexible elastomer backrest, and soft, eco-friendly seat cushion. The Vantum is built for both style and functionality, ensuring gamers can maintain optimal posture and comfort throughout their play. Its forward-neutral design promotes an active, upright posture, essential for maintaining focus and quick reactions. With highly adjustable armrests and seat settings, it can be customized to fit any body type. The Vantum is made from durable materials, ensuring it can withstand the rigors of intense gaming sessions.

Designer: Herman Miller

Design Elements

The Herman Miller Vantum Gaming Chair is designed to support gamers through long sessions with optimal ergonomics and comfort. Its modern aesthetic and advanced features cater to the gaming community’s needs, seamlessly combining style and function.

The Vantum Gaming Chair is available in a range of striking colors: Nightfall (a deep blue), Mystic (a meditative lilac), Helio (an electrifying orange), and Abyss (a bold green inspired by new frontiers). These new colorways join the existing options of Obsidian Black, Polar White, and Flare Red, offering a wide array of choices to match various gaming setups and personal preferences. For instance, the Mystic color emphasizes the chair’s sleek and sophisticated design, demonstrating how its forward-leaning posture and ergonomic adjustments support an active gaming session.

Constructed from high-quality materials, the Vantum ensures both durability and comfort. The backrest features a proprietary elastomer and polyester suspension, providing flexibility and continuous support. The headrest and seat cushion are made of polyurethane foam, topped with 100% post-consumer recycled polyester fabric, making the chair both comfortable and eco-friendly. The frame and base, made from glass-filled nylon, offer strength without unnecessary weight, while the arm pads are crafted from flexible polyurethane integral skin foam, providing comfort during long gaming sessions. The advanced support system, including the thoracic support pad and lumbar adjustment knob, exemplifies the chair’s ergonomic design and high-quality construction.

Ergonomic Features

Ergonomics play a crucial role in the Vantum Gaming Chair’s design. Various adjustable components enhance user comfort and performance, making it a versatile and user-friendly chair.

Adjustable Headrest and Sacral/Lumbar Support

The redesigned headrest is a standout feature of the Vantum. It can be moved vertically and rotated to provide optimal support for the neck and head, whether actively playing or taking a break. This flexibility ensures the chair adapts to different gaming positions, promoting better posture and reducing neck and back strain

Additionally, the chair includes an adjustable lumbar support system that can be customized for different back curvatures by turning a knob located on either side of the seat. Proper lumbar support is essential for maintaining the natural curve of the spine and preventing lower back pain during extended gaming sessions.

Arm Adjustments and Seat Height/Depth

The armrests can be adjusted in height, width, and depth, ensuring the user finds the most comfortable and supportive arm position for different activities. Whether leaning forward to focus on the game or reclining back to relax, the armrests can be positioned to provide continuous support, reducing shoulder and arm strain.

The seat height can be adjusted to ensure the user’s feet are flat on the floor, creating a stable base. The seat depth can also be modified by sliding the seat forward or backward, ensuring the thighs are properly supported. Proper seat height and depth adjustments are crucial for maintaining good posture and preventing discomfort in the legs and lower back.

Tilt Limiter, Tension, and Forward-Neutral Design

The Vantum includes a tilt limiter to set the reclining limit and a tilt tension adjustment to control the ease of reclining. These features provide personalized comfort, allowing the user to find the perfect reclining angle and resistance. The tilt limiter ensures the chair does not recline too far, promoting a safe and stable seating position, while the tilt tension adjustment allows control over how easily the chair reclines.

The forward-neutral design naturally positions the body in an active, upright posture, ideal for maintaining focus and reaction time during gaming. This design helps engage the core muscles and reduces spinal strain, promoting overall health and better performance.

Thoracic Support Pad

The thoracic support pad works with the headrest to provide comprehensive upper back support, essential during long gaming sessions. Proper thoracic support encourages a healthy posture and reduces the risk of upper back and neck strain, ensuring the entire spine is supported from the lower back to the neck.

Is the Herman Miller Vantum Gaming Chair Right for You?

How’s your current gaming chair holding up? Are you constantly adjusting it to find a comfortable spot or dealing with back and neck pain after a How’s your current gaming chair holding up? Are you constantly adjusting it to find a comfortable spot or dealing with back and neck pain after a long session? If so, the Vantum might be just what you need.

The Vantum combines stylish design with serious comfort, offering options to personalize it to your taste and ergonomic features that prioritize your well-being. It’s not just about looking good—although with colors like Mystic and Nightfall, it definitely does—it’s about feeling good too.

If your current chair isn’t cutting it anymore, maybe it’s time for an upgrade. The Vantum’s adjustable headrest, lumbar support and customizable armrests ensure a perfect fit. Plus, it’s made from durable, eco-friendly materials, making it a smart choice for both you and the environment.

The post The Perfect Gaming Throne: An In-Depth Look at the Herman Miller Vantum Gaming Chair first appeared on Yanko Design.