An in-depth look at legendary furniture and design firm Vitra.
Family-owned since its founding in the 1950s, Vitra has had an outsized influence on the furniture world without ever hiring in-house talent. Instead, they've worked hand-in-hand with some of the best designers in the world — including Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, and Isamu Noguchi — to bring their creations to the masses. The company's focus on design extends to architecture, as well, including the Frank Gehry-penned Vitra Design Museum on the grounds of its HQ in Weil am Rhein, Germany, which is also home to buildings by Zaha Hadid, Tadao Ando, Alvaro Siza, Herzog & de Meuron, and Jean Prouvé. This issue of B takes a look at the evolution of the brand from furniture manufacturer to tastemaker for the boardroom and beyond.