HEATHER MADDEN for HERMAN MILLER GROUP

Positively impacting the design industry and the community.

Heather Madden, Senior Designer for Branded Environments

Heather Madden is a Senior Designer for Branded Environments at Herman Miller. Heather is a true collaborator and loves to explore, experiment, and view things differently. Her design is deeply rooted in providing impact to the human experience. Her thinking is strategic and her execution is flawless. Heather used the LOVE GOOD COLOR system to inform color choice in the new space, The Herman Miller Group at Fulton Market.

TEAM: Herman Miller Global Branded Environments

PROJECT: Herman Miller Group at Chicago Fulton

THE STORY:
COVID-19 deeply impacted how people feel about their space and surroundings. During a very difficult time filled with uncertainty, one thing was evident: customers around the world were looking to create meaningful connections to help balance mental and emotional health. When Heather was asked to design the new Herman Miller Group at Fulton Space showroom floors for a post-pandemic workplace, she knew it was not going to be business as usual. This was a unique opportunity to communicate feelings of hope, optimism, and joy – while also providing a sense of calm, comfort, and safety.

LOVE GOOD COLOR chips used in color selecting and matching

THE APPROACH:
Heather was in one of the first groups at Herman Miller to take the LOVE GOOD COLOR workshop and get familiar with the LOVE GOOD COLOR Methodology and System. While developing the Herman Miller Group at Fulton Space color palette and selection of all materials and finishes for the showroom floors, Heather knew the emotional quality of the Herman Miller Group at Fulton space would be critical to its success. Her approach was then to strategically and thoughtfully use color to communicate those feelings she was trying to convey, as well as the purpose and activities that occur within a given space. Individual spaces are quieter yet comforting – with white, grey, colored neutrals, and warm, tones through oak and ash wood – while the group spaces feature higher chroma, saturated color, in addition to pattern, creating some small but bold moments like firecrackers. And in some instances, they are more like fireworks! Whether small or large in scale, the color is purposeful and in service of bringing the lighthearted, playful, and joyful space Heather was seeking.

LOVE GOOD COLOR IMPACT:
The Herman Miller Group at Fulton Space opened its door in April 2021 by appointment only due to COVID-19 safety restrictions. In its first two months, over two hundred groups of designers had the joy of experiencing its impactful and colorful design developed through the lens of color. Beyond the extraordinary accolades it already received from both design professionals and the media, the space design reinforced Herman Miller’s leadership in the industry, and solidified jobs, directly impacting the community around it. Heather’s commitment to humanistic design and her deep understanding of what was truly needed was felt by the community. This is what designing with impact is all about.