George Nelson

“Action Office” by George Nelson for Herman Miller, 1964.

Desk with teak rolltop opening onto a worktop, storage units and hanging files. Three drawers under the worktop. With two keys to close the flap. Publisher’s label underneath.

The Action Office was the first “Open Space” office system in the world, and is the result of more than three years’ research by the Herman Miller Research Corporation.

In-depth studies into human behaviour in the office and environmental influences on productivity, health and enthusiasm at work led George Nelson to propose a furniture system that challenged the traditional hierarchical organisation of the office with an open, less rigid organisation.

Desks with a reclosable rolltop allow unfinished work to be left on the desk in the evening, to be picked up again the next morning without delay.

The Action Office, designed by George Nelson, won the Alcoa Industrial Design Award in 1965.