New York-based designer Todd Bracher subscribes to a concept called “irreducible complexity”, paring any object down to its most fundamental aspect, so that only what is essential to its purpose remains. With Distil, his first design for Herman Miller, Bracher has refined the idea of a desk to its essence. The result is a quiet and elegant desk or table equally appropriate in a small office, work room, or dining area.
To design Distil, Bracher started by studying how the user interfaces with a work surface and asking questions. “Why are table edges uninvitingly sharp?” led to folded edges that are both easy on the arms and also provide structure throughout the table. “How can we make it lightweight and strong?” led to the decision to use molded plywood. “How can we intuitively address global wiring needs?” led to subtle pass-throughs located in the cross-stretchers and the optional storage.
With solid wood legs, eased edges, and a molded plywood top, Distil is approachable, physically and aesthetically. Without storage, Distil is a table. With storage, Distil is a desk. Cleverly designed to keep devices and chargers close at hand but out of sight, the desk’s laminate-‐ lined storage units mount on the left or the right, in vertical or horizontal orientation. A removable internal drawer can double as a desktop “inbox”; taking cues from traditional Japanese cabinet making, a velvet bottom ensures items won’t mar the drawer’s interior.
Bracher’s simple, straightforward solution to cable management channels wires and cords the length of the desk through cut-‐outs in the cross stretchers, which also accept a standard power strip. The essential nature of Distil extends to its assembly: it goes together with a simple tool in a few minutes.
Distil comes in white ash, ebony, or walnut, and is available in two sizes. A new addition to the Herman Miller Collection, Distil will be on display in the Herman Miller showroom during NeoCon, June 15-17, 2015, and is available for purchase now.
About the Herman Miller Collection
In 1948, George Nelson created the first Herman Miller Collection, with the goal of "a permanent collection designed to meet fully the requirements for modern living.” He understood that the Collection would evolve as human behavior changed and new materials and manufacturing technologies emerged. Today’s modern living embraces the blending of life and work, with greater appreciation for contemporary design and mobile and ubiquitous technologies offering new freedom of choice in where and how people express their lifestyles and pursue their professions. The Herman Miller Collection welcomes and enriches this new era, as the company endeavors to realize Nelson’s vision for the modern home, office, and public spaces.
About Herman Miller
Herman Miller’s inspiring designs, inventive technologies and strategic services help people do great things and organizations perform at their best. The company’s award-winning products and services generated approximately $2.1 billion in revenue in fiscal 2015. A past recipient of the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, Herman Miller designs can be found in the permanent collections of museums worldwide. Innovative business practices and a commitment to social responsibility have also helped establish Herman Miller as a recognized global leader. Herman Miller maintains the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s top rating in its annual Corporate Equality Index and was named among the 50 Best U.S. Manufacturers by Industry Week in 2014. Herman Miller is included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MLHR.