Notal Program, 1979

By the mid-1970s, with a growing elderly population, American disability rights activists advocated for equitable care and accessible environments for all people. Designers, too, began to explore creating objects that worked well for everyone. Michigan-based furniture company Herman Miller embarked upon the Notal project, its first foray into designing specifically for older adults, researching how their day-to-day lives were affected by ill-suited environments.