First launched in 1958, the swag leg group by George Nelson is an expression of his philosophy that design is a response to social change. Now, almost 50 years later, Herman Miller is honoring Nelson's straightforward genius with the reintroduction of select swag leg products.
The timeless appeal of the collection has led to the revival of chairs, tables and an elegant desk that can be used separately or together in either a residential or office setting.
The collection is known for the distinctive design of its legs. Nelson insisted that they be metal, machine formed and pre-finished. Swaging—using pressure to taper and curve a metal tube—proved the best way to produce the legs, which are 16-gauge steel and have adjustable glides.
"The decision to bring the swag leg group back has been warmly received by the AandD community," says Gregg VanderKooi, Herman Miller product manager, Classics. "We think each piece in the group is exceptional, but the chair is the focal point and is getting an incredible response."
The chair's most notable feature is the separate molded seat and back. "Nelson wanted the chair to flex and move with the user," adds VanderKooi. "He also realized that the slit between the seat and back prevented heat build-up, even before this issue was on the radar."
The chair has received the most significant makeover, moving from molded fiberglass to an environmentally sustainable polypropylene to conform to Herman Miller's strict guidelines for sustainable design. The chair currently is available in white, but additional colors, including black and gray, or a combination of any two colors for the seat and back, will be available this spring. The legs are available in chrome, white, or a black finish.
The group also offers a choice of white laminate or walnut veneer for either the round or square table. The Nelson desk has been fitted with a cable access hole for wires, two pencil drawers and cubby holes decorated with brightly painted hardwood dividers. Chrome legs are standard on the desk and tables.
Herman Miller helps create great places to work, heal, learn, and live by researching, designing, manufacturing, and distributing innovative interior solutions that support companies, organizations and individuals all over the world. Herman Miller is widely recognized for both its innovative products and business practices and is a recipient of the prestigious National Design Award for product design from the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. For additional information, visit www.hermanmiller.com.