Girard in his studio working on the Environmental Enrichment Panels, 1972. Photograph by Charles Eames.
In 1971, Alexander Girard created the Environmental Enrichment Panel series — 40 silkscreen graphics to accompany the Herman Miller Action Office 2 system, which was designed in 1968 as a modern solution to office interiors. Robert Propst, head of the Herman Miller Research Corporation, criticized offices for their “rigidity, lack of delegation and pyramidal decision making that…smothered creativity and innovation.” The AO2 was built with change and flexibility in mind and allowed employees to customize their personal spaces to fit their needs, even down to the lighting. Surfaces were made neutral to aid in the system’s adaptability and Girard created decorative canvas hangings specifically designed for the AO2 components.
