2010 Speakers

If you’ve seen Herman Miller’s picnic posters from the 70s and 80s, or its annual reports, you might wonder what kind of creative mind is behind their design. For 40 years, Steve Frykholm has been largely responsible for these projects, Herman Miller’s image and graphic identity, and other collateral material.

Before being hired as Herman Miller’s first internal graphic designer, Steve received a BFA from Bradley University, taught in Nigeria West Africa with the U.S. Peace Corp, and received an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art.

His work has been published and exhibited, and he’s received numerous graphic design and communication awards from the AIGA, the professional association for design, the New York Art Directors Club, American Center for Design, Communication Arts, Graphis, and Print. His posters are in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art, New York, Montreal Museum of Decorative Arts, Danish Museum of Decorative Art, National Museum of American Art, Cooper Hewitt National Museum of Design, and the Library of Congress. He was recognized as an annual report legend in Graphis and an American Design icon in the 50th Anniversary Issue of Communication Arts.

In 1986 Steve received The Carl F. Frost Award, Herman Miller’s highest recognition for an employee, in 2005 he became an AIGA Fellow, and in 2010 an AIGA Medalist.