A standalone print edition of
Ideas magazine and the release of Hot Dog Picnic Poster by
Steve Frykholm (1973) are the latest
expressions of the brand's refreshed identity and rich design
history
ZEELAND,
Mich., May 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Herman Miller
introduces two new collector's items from its archives, adding to
its iconic Picnic Poster series with the limited release of Hot Dog
Picnic Poster (1973) and a new standalone print edition of
Ideas magazine.
In January 2024,
Herman Miller introduced its refreshed brand identity, which
includes the latest evolution of the brand's logo and wordmark.
Herman Miller worked with Order Design to design a complete set of
brand standards including a rich color palette, a new wordmark, and
a starring role for the iconic M logo (originally designed by
Irving Harper in 1946). The design
and development of Ideas magazine brings this new system to
life in tactile form.
The poster and magazine, along with a sampling of
Herman Miller's rich graphic design history, will be on display
during a "Picnic on Park" celebration at Herman Miller's
New York location at 251 Park
Avenue South during NYCxDESIGN from Tuesday,
May 21 through Thursday, May
23, 2024.
Hot Dog Picnic Poster
In 1970, Herman
Miller hired its first in-house graphic designer fresh out of
Cranbrook Academy of Art, Steve Frykholm. Over Frykholm's 45-year career,
his role expanded to Vice President of Creative Design, and
included countless awards and achievements. For 20 consecutive
years, one of the projects he expressed being most proud of is
designing Herman Miller's annual company picnic poster. Each year
brought a new design challenge in the form of a picnic theme
inspired by quintessential American summer potluck menu items. The
colorful artwork grew to become as highly anticipated a tradition
as the picnic itself and has made its way into permanent
collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and many other
museums worldwide.
The Hot Dog Picnic Poster is the third in the
Picnic Poster series to be offered by the brand as a limited-run
reprint. Posters previously selected include Sweet Corn Picnic
Poster (1970), released in 2021, and Watermelon Picnic Poster
(1971) in 2023.
The meticulous screen-printing technique used to
remake Hot Dog Picnic Poster still closely mirrors what Frykholm
initiated in 1970, which he describes in a short film produced by
the brand: "It's a sequence of events. One color at a time. And
then that last one goes on, and it's better than you imagined." The
story behind the printing process spans four decades and is covered
in more detail in the new edition of Ideas
magazine.
"The Picnic Poster series released from 1970 to
1989 brought joy to Herman Miller employees and represents a
well-loved company culture and tradition," said Amy Auscherman, Director of Global Archives and
Brand Heritage at MillerKnoll.
"Originally, Frykholm created the designs for invitations and other
promotional materials. The program took off quickly, with posters
made available exclusively to Herman Miller employees."
Each poster is screen printed on 100% cotton
paper and mounted in an American maple frame available in natural,
white, or black finish. The dimensions are 42½" H 28" W 2½" D. Hot
Dog Picnic Poster is available to order for $895 USD in stores and online at Herman
Miller. Visit the Herman Miller website for your region for
availability.
Ideas
magazine
Ideas magazine is inspired by a
thought-leader-style publication of the same name Herman Miller
published for internal and commercial audiences between 1978 and
1982. The newly released standalone issue considers Herman Miller
today by examining ideas set in motion throughout the company's
history and highlighting emerging ideas. "There are many reasons
Herman Miller is thriving after 100 years, and our ongoing
receptivity to ideas is central to the brand's success," said
Kelsey Keith, Brand Creative
Director at Herman Miller. "The stories we tell in
the magazine—and its accompanying social and digital
experiences—explore the ideas behind all aspects of design, while
tapping into Herman Miller's spirit of adventure and history of
innovation."
Ideas is being released as a
standalone print issue and initiates a resurgence of brand stories,
some of which will also be published to the brand's websites.
Complimentary copies will be available in Herman Miller showrooms
globally.
Herman Miller "Picnic on Park" at
NYCxDESIGN
Herman Miller's store at 251 Park Avenue South
will host Picnic on Park during NYCxDESIGN on Tuesday, Wednesday,
and Thursday, May 21-23, 2024,
12 pm - 2 pm EST. Visitors will
experience a summer picnic, Herman Miller-style, courtesy of a
bespoke hot dog cart; receive a copy of Ideas magazine and a
collectible tote (available in limited quantities); and get a first
look at the Hot Dog Picnic Poster, the 2024 reissue from Herman
Miller's iconic Picnic Poster series.
About Herman Miller
Over the last
century, Herman Miller has been guided by a commitment to
problem-solving designs that inspire the best in people. Along the
way, Herman Miller has forged critical relationships with the most
visionary designers of the day, from mid-century greats like
George Nelson, the Eames Office, and
Isamu Noguchi, to research-oriented
visionaries like Robert Propst and
Bill Stumpf—and with today's groundbreaking studios like Industrial
Facility and Studio 7.5. From the birth of ergonomic furniture to
manufacturing some of the twentieth century's most iconic pieces,
Herman Miller has pioneered original, timeless design that makes an
enduring impact, while building a lasting legacy of design,
innovation, and social good. Herman Miller is a part of
MillerKnoll, a collective of dynamic brands that comes together to
design the world we live in. For more information, visit
hermanmiller.com/about.
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