Herman Miller buying Brandrud Furniture company

Herman Miller Inc. said it's buying Brandrud Furniture Inc., which makes health care furnishings, for an undisclosed price. Read press release.

Do you need a cube makeover?

Is your office workstation boring? Bring it to life with a cubicle makeover. Wired.com posts an amusing article, Fantastic Fixes Help Your Sad, Pathetic Cubicle . The article is about the book, Cube Chic, by Kelley L. Moore, where she presents 22 whimsical workspace makeovers, from the Nap Cube to the Cubism Cube. There are several extreme makeover photos which unless you work for Google or Yahoo, I'm not sure your boss would appreciate. My favorite is the Nap Cube with the bed beneath the workstation.

Read article

Herman Miller, Inc., Earns 2007 WasteWise Gold Achievement Award for Smart Packaging

Herman Miller has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2007 WasteWise Gold Achievement Award for its ongoing commitment to reduce transport packaging.

The company has reduced its cardboard and plastic packaging by more than 50 percent, a result of shipping many of its products in bulk, securely enclosed in reusable blankets.

"Finding smarter ways to ensure our products reach the customer intact is just one aspect of our environmental commitment," says Paul Murray, director of Environmental Health and Safety at Herman Miller. "We are committed both to integrity in our deliveries and reducing our environmental footprint."

This is Herman Miller's seventh WasteWise award since the program's introduction in 1994. The company also was recognized as Partner of the Year in 1999 and Program Champion in 2000 and 2001.

Gold Achievement Award recipients were announced at the annual WasteWise conference in Washington, D.C., on November 15, 2007.

Herman Miller's Leaf Chosen as a "Best Invention of 2007" by TIME Magazine

The Leaf Personal Light from Herman Miller, Inc., has been feted by TIME Magazine as one of the Best Inventions of the 2007. The LED (light emitting diode) table-top light was noted for its energy efficiency and sleek design.

Leaf is a result of collaborative engineering and design development between Herman Miller and Yves Behar's San Francisco-based studio, fuseproject. Its 20 LEDs utilize 40 percent less energy than a 13-watt compact fluorescent bulb.

Richard Stengel, managing editor of TIME, defines the selected products as the coolest stuff from the most innovative minds in the world. He adds, "When you're dealing with complex technology, you can't overestimate the importance of good, clean design."

The Best Inventions of the Year appear in the publication's November 12, 2007, issue.