Swatches, "Hopsak," Designed by Alexander Girard for Herman Miller, 1963-1973

Summary

Early modernist design was starkly minimal, but mid-century modern designer Alexander Girard's work challenged and expanded the movement. Girard humanized modernism through his colorful and whimsical textile, furniture, graphic, and interior designs. As the Director of Design in Herman Miller's Textile Division from 1952 until 1973, Girard designed over 300 textiles, often using bold color combinations and abstract patterns.

Early modernist design was starkly minimal, but mid-century modern designer Alexander Girard's work challenged and expanded the movement. Girard humanized modernism through his colorful and whimsical textile, furniture, graphic, and interior designs. As the Director of Design in Herman Miller's Textile Division from 1952 until 1973, Girard designed over 300 textiles, often using bold color combinations and abstract patterns.

Artifact

Swatches

Date Made

1963-1973

Creators

Girard, Alexander 

Herman Miller, Inc. 

Place of Creation

United States, Michigan, Zeeland 

Creator Notes

Herman Miller Textiles. Designed by Alexander Girard.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

92.48.2.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Herman Miller, Inc.

Material

Cardboard
Nylon

Color

Multicolored

Dimensions

Height: 1.25 in  (With cards spread out)

Diameter: 9 in  (With cards spread out)

Inscriptions

on front of each swatch tag: herman miller / textiles / Zeeland, Michigan 49464

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