Herman Miller Reintroduces Eight of Alexander Girard's "Environmental Enrichment Panels" As Posters

Alexander Girard founded Herman Miller’s textile division in 1952, and, in his more than two decades at the company, worked with George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames to create over 300 items — from textile patterns to furniture and objects. The ripples of Girard’s work are still felt across the entirety of furniture and home design today, and now Herman Miller is saluting one of the many memorable pieces from the designer’s oeuvre by reissuing eight of his “Environmental Enrichment Panels” from Herman Miller’s Action Office Series in poster form.

Originally introduced in the ’70s as a way for office buildings to add some levity and playfulness to their drab interiors, the “Environmental Enrichment Panels” used bright colors and bold patterns to catch the eye and spark the imagination of office workers. Herman Miller’s design team selected eight of Girard’s designs to be revived and reinterpreted — Circle Sections, Geometric C, Geometric D, Geometric E, Double Heart, Eyes, Palace and Bouquet — and produced them in a variety of shapes and sizes perfect for home display. The re-release is a full-circle moment in a way: now that the definition of what an “office” can be has expanded post-pandemic, it feels only fitting that the “Environmental Enrichment Panels” can now be used in a home office.

“We’ve offered Alexander Girard prints for some time now in the form of tapestries, so we’re excited to reissue these iconic designs in a new format for our customers,” said Ben Watson, President of Herman Miller. “Girard’s Environmental Enrichment Panels were the last major body of work he completed for Herman Miller, and they have brought color and joy to many homes and design lovers around the world for decades. This launch will allow us to reach an even wider audience and offer more possibilities for people to bring Girard’s archival works into their homes and offices.”

Herman Miller’s series of Girard posters are printed on cotton paper, and feature a high-resolution digital print on their front plus a stamp of authenticity on the back. They’re available either unframed or with natural, white or black frames, all of which are made of American maple. Unframed prices start at $195 USD while framed prices begin at $525 USD, and all can be found at the Herman Miller and Design Within Reach websites.

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