BRAND / CREATOR

Eero Saarinen(1910-1961)

Eero Saarinen grew up surrounded by design, influenced by his globally renowned parents: Eliel Saarinen, the first president of the Cranbrook Academy, and textile artist Loja Saarinen. Saarinen studied sculpture in Paris in 1929 and entered the Yale School of Architecture the following year. In 1934, he began teaching at the Cranbrook Academy.

At Cranbrook, Saarinen met Charles Eames. The two became close friends while exploring new materials and processes, enhancing each other as project partners. In 1940, their plywood chair won the grand prize at the Organic Design Competition organized by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, catapulting them into the spotlight.
Additionally, Saarinen met Florence Knoll at Cranbrook, a promising student of his father, Eliel Saarinen. Florence developed a sibling-like relationship with the Saarinen family, spending summers with them, a connection that lasted a lifetime. At Florence's request, Saarinen designed many iconic pieces for Knoll over more than 15 years from 1940, including the Tulip Chair and the Womb Chair. His elegant, organically shaped designs using modern materials became signature pieces for Knoll.
Besides furniture, Saarinen left a significant legacy as an architect. His notable works include Washington Dulles International Airport, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, the TWA Terminal at Kennedy International Airport, and the CBS Building in New York.

Antenna Design(Masamichi Udagawa & Sigi Moeslinger)

Antenna Design was founded in 1997 by Tokyo-born Masamichi Udagawa, a Cranbrook Academy graduate, and Vienna-born Sigi Moeslinger, who holds degrees from NYU and Art Center College of Design. Antenna's people-centered design approach aims to make the experience of objects and environments more meaningful and exciting. Among Antenna’s best-known projects are the design of New York City Subway cars and ticket vending machines, JetBlue check-in kiosks and displays for Bloomberg.
When Knoll set out to create a new open plan office system, Antenna’s experience with the ever-expanding presence of technology and their expertise in user experience made them an attractive collaborative partner. Together Knoll and Antenna conceived Antenna Workspaces, an innovative open plan system, which reflects Udagawa and Moeslinger’s interest in functional simplicity as well as their expertise in using design as a tool of social interaction that bridges people and technology.
Antenna has been recognized with several prestigious design awards, including the National Design Award in Product Design from the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Both Udagawa and Moeslinger are senior critics in graphic design at the Yale University School of Art.

FilzFelt

FilzFelt was founded in 2008 by two designers who love felt, Kelly Smith and Traci Roloff. Later, they joined Knoll as partners and have since expanded into the world of interior design, showcasing felt's natural warmth and sound environment as a solution in various architectural and interior settings. FilzFelt's history, which began with hanging panels and floor mats, has now expanded to include furniture coverings and wall panels, finding applications in a wide range of settings.

VENUE

Knoll Japan Showroom

Knoll, often regarded as synonymous with the history of modern design, embodies and pursues design excellence. Established in 1938 by Hans G. and Florence Knoll in New York, the company harmoniously united the ideals of Bauhaus and Cranbrook. Their meticulous dedication to research and innovation resulted in products lauded as "utilitarian artworks," seamlessly merging aesthetics and comfort. These remarkable pieces have significantly influenced the realm of modern furniture, gracing offices, public spaces, residences, and various domains, thus cementing Knoll's legacy in the annals of design history.

https://www.knolljapan.com/