MillerKnoll is accelerating its healthcare strategy with a clear vision: to create environments that support the realities of care delivery while elevating experiences for patients, families, and caregivers. The company’s approach blends evidence-based principles with human-centered thinking to ensure spaces are safe, efficient, and restorative. This vision is coming to life through several key initiatives:

Collaborative Research to Reduce Nurse Burnout: MillerKnoll is partnering with leading healthcare organizations and their design partners to study how space and design can mitigate nurse fatigue and stress—helping improve retention and well-being for frontline caregivers. In addition to this work, MillerKnoll is also exploring broader human-centered design challenges, such as its newly released menopause design guidelines, which aim to create environments that support comfort and well-being across life stages.

Problem-Solving Through Product Innovation: Solutions like Herman Miller’s Gemma Seating Family were designed through a lens of empathy and functionality to address real challenges in patient and caregiver comfort while supporting workflow efficiency.

Thought Leadership and Industry Engagement: MillerKnoll showcased its healthcare legacy and vision for the future at events like the Healthcare Design Conference (HCD), where Herman Miller received two Nightingale Awards: one for the Gemma Recliner in the Patient Seating category, and one for the Mora System for Sustainability in the Furniture Collections category. The company also demonstrated a strong presence at the Global Health Exhibition in Saudi Arabia, reinforcing its role in helping shape the future of healthcare in a region experiencing rapid growth and modernization.

Spaces for Ideation and Collaboration: MillerKnoll is redefining what a healthcare showroom can be. Its Chicago Fulton Market location, which opened in June during Design Days, isn’t just a display space—it’s a dynamic environment where providers, designers, and partners can come together to co-create solutions that transform care delivery.

Clinical Expertise at the Core
MillerKnoll has long championed the inclusion of the clinical voice in healthcare design. As a founding member of the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design (NIHD) and coauthor of Nurses as Leaders in Healthcare Design, the company helped pioneer the idea that clinicians should have a seat at the design table. That philosophy continues to guide MillerKnoll’s work today.

To deepen this impact, MillerKnoll recently welcomed Shelbye Maynard, DNP, MBA, MSN, CNOR, NEA-BC, to its clinical strategy team. A nationally recognized nurse executive with more than 30 years of experience, Shelbye brings a perspective that bridges clinical realities and design innovation—ensuring spaces reflect the complexities of care delivery while supporting workflow, safety, and well-being.

“Including clinical insight in the design process isn’t new for us—it’s part of our DNA,” said Mike O’Toole, Senior Vice President, Healthcare at MillerKnoll. “Our commitment to human-centered healthcare design means creating environments that truly work for caregivers and patients alike.”

Looking Ahead
MillerKnoll’s healthcare strategy is rooted in the belief that design can be a powerful tool for transformation. With Shelbye’s expertise, the company is poised to deepen its impact across clinical environments and continue driving innovation in healthcare design.