October 18, 2021
Herman Miller Partners with USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai to Explore the Future of Work
The leading manufacturer of furniture and office equipment collaborates with College of Art, Architecture and Design (CAAD) at American University of Sharjah (AUS) and the IIT Institute of Design (IIT ID) in Chicago, to present new directions for the sustainable workplace.

Herman Miller Middle East & Africa (Herman Miller MEA), a regional leader in innovative design and furnishing solutions, will present new perspectives on the future of work at Expo 2020 Dubai (hereafter Expo 2020), as part of a partnership with AUS, IIT Institute of Design (IIT ID) in Chicago and the USA Pavilion.

Running from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai welcomes 192 countries and  millions of visitors, alongside businesses, multilateral organizations and educational establishments. This will be the first time that a World Expo has ever been held in the Middle East.

“We see it as a once-in-a-lifetime celebration,” said Stacy Stewart, Regional Director, Herman Miller MEA. “It’s the largest event to ever take place in the Arab world. Herman Miller has been established in the region for 40 years now, so this was an opportunity we couldn’t miss.”

Herman Miller MEA’s participation will involve a series of events happening at both Herman Miller Regional Design Centre and at the USA Pavilion, opening with an exclusive event with regional thought leaders sharing insights on the future of work. The programme will feature an exhibition of people-centric innovations for the office, plus future-of-work projects from Herman Miller. It will also feature explorations of the future of work and education from students and faculty of CAAD at AUS and IIT ID.

“We are delighted to have Herman Miller as an official partner of the USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai,” said Commissioner General of the USA Pavilion Robert Clark. “Through their focus on the future of work and by connecting students across the world, they are demonstrating their commitment to creating a better future for the next generation of leaders – in the workplace and beyond.”

The collaboration with AUS and IIT ID paves the future of research in the fields of design management, interior design, and architecture through an interdisciplinary set of activities, providing glimpses of a concrete and tangible future for education and work environments.

“The projects will be exhibited at Expo 2020 Dubai through an innovative virtual portal between the Herman Miller showrooms in Dubai and Chicago. Such long-distance collaboration is unprecedented in the world of design education. We hope it will lead to some amazing ideas and insights for design and innovation in both regions,” said Dr. Anijo Punnen Mathew, Associate Professor at IIT ID.

“It is only through collaborative efforts that we can envision the future of work and education. We all have faced challenges in these areas, and I cannot think of a better partner than Herman Miller to launch this initiative between two hubs of creativity worldwide: IIT in Chicago and AUS in Sharjah. A dialogue between two academic institutions and linking it to the professional world”, added Juan Roldan, Associate Professor, College of Architecture, Art and Design at American University of Sharjah.

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For more on the USA Pavilion, please visit www.usapavilion.org

For more on Expo 2020 Dubai, please visit www.expo2020dubai.com/

About Herman Miller 

Herman Miller is a globally recognised leader in design. Since its inception in 1905, the company’s innovative, problem-solving designs and furnishings have inspired the best in people. Herman Miller is guided by an enduring legacy of design, innovation, and social good. In 2021, Herman Miller and Knoll created MillerKnoll, a collective of dynamic brands that comes together to design the world we live in.  

About MillerKnoll   
MillerKnoll is a collective of dynamic brands that comes together to design the world we live in. MillerKnoll includes Herman Miller and Knoll, plus Colebrook Bosson Saunders, DatesWeiser, Design Within Reach, Edelman Leather, Fully, Geiger, HAY, Holly Hunt, KnollExtra, KnollStudio, KnollTextiles, Maars Living Walls, Maharam, Muuto, naughtone, and Spinneybeck|FilzFelt. MillerKnoll is an unparalleled platform that redefines modern for the 21st century by building a more sustainable, equitable, and beautiful future for everyone.

About IIT Institute of Design
IIT Institute of Design (ID) builds responsible, cooperative, intelligent futures. Founded by László Moholy-Nagy as The New Bauhaus in 1937, ID is known for pioneering human-centered design and systems design. With the only design school in the US devoted completely to graduate students, ID offers an expansive approach to design education for the 21st century and beyond.

About American University of Sharjah
American University of Sharjah (AUS) was founded in 1997 by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Sharjah. Sheikh Sultan articulated his vision of a distinctive institution against the backdrop of Islamic history and in the context of the aspirations and needs of contemporary society in the UAE and the Gulf region.

Firmly grounded in principles of meritocracy and with a strong reputation for academic excellence, AUS has come to represent the very best in teaching and research, accredited internationally and recognised by employers the world over for creating graduates equipped with the knowledge, skills and drive to lead in the 21st century.

AUS values learners not driven only by academic success, but by those that embrace our dynamic campus life and embody our ideals of openness, tolerance and respect. This combination of academic excellence and community spirit ensures AUS is filled with world-class faculty and students, poised to become the innovators, thinkers, contributors and leaders of tomorrow.

About the USA Pavilion
The USA Pavilion at Expo 2020 celebrates the theme, "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of the Future." Exhibits showcase the freedoms and opportunities that built a dynamic and open society, paving the way for American innovation and prosperity.  Expo 2020 Dubai will run from October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.  For more information, please visit www.usapavilion.org.

USA Pavilion Media Contact: media@usapavilion.org