The year 2008 marks the 100th birthday of George Nelson (1908-1986), one of the most influential figures in American design during the second half of the twentieth century. Nelson, who earned an architectural degree from Yale, was not only a leading designer and notable architect, but also a prominent author, editor, lecturer, exhibition designer, and a passionate photographer.

The exhibition catalogue accompanies the first comprehensive retrospective of George Nelson's work. With eight essays by German and American design historians, the publication deals with all of the areas in Nelson's oeuvre, many of which are presented here for the first time. The catalogue also includes an illustrated list of works. The majority of illustrations, previously unpublished, come from the Nelson Estate in the Vitra Design Museum Archive.