Herman Miller Gaming Reveals First Ever Artist-Led Collaboration

Featuring chairs and accessories designed by NYC-based duo FAILE.

Herman Miller Gaming has unveiled the first in an ongoing series of artist collaborations – a collection designed by the Brooklyn-based Brooklyn-based artists Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller of FAILE.

The collection comprises a series of limited-edition chairs, painted wooden “Joysticks”, and print editions, and is set to launch in an installation in NYC later this month.

When it came to the chairs, McNeil and Miller created 12 one-of-a-kind versions, that see their typical style and aesthetic applied to the popular Embody Gaming chair. The artists took inspitration from Herman Miller’s long history in printmaking, and wanted to create something that celebrated the colorful worlds of gaming through the ergonomic seat.

“Herman Miller Gaming is rooted in design and creativity, they understand the creative process and were willing to go on the journey of making and discovery,” FAILE told Hypebeast. “For us, the Embody Gaming Chair was similar to how we’d approach creating a skateboard deck, our prayer wheels or an arcade cabinet as sculptural object. You’re celebrating the surfaces, the lines and the shape as your canvas–looking at how color and image speak to those dimensional features.”

Elsewhere, arcade games, music, nightlife and previous original artworks have been huge sources of inspiration. For Jon Campbell, Vice President and General Manager of Herman Miller Gaming – FAILE was an obvious choice for this first collaborative collection.

“As Gamers who work at Herman Miller, we knew we had the opportunity to bring something that hasn’t existed in our community – premium gaming furniture,” he said. “Faile’s approach to original design and their influence on the gaming community was exactly what we wanted to amplify through this collaboration.”

For the Joysticks, FAILE dreamt up 100 unique sculpture designs and hand-carved them from wood. Lastly, the limited-edition range features three prints – each reflecting the worlds of gaming and arcades.

“We love original design that causes you to stop and wonder,” Campbell said. “You have never seen anything like this before and that is exactly why we wanted to launch this series of products. We want people to wonder how far design can go with Gaming [objects].”

Fans will be able to take a look at the full Herman Miller Gaming x FAILE collection at an installation inside the brand’s Meatpacking District location in NYC, opening from September 27 through September 29. Joysticks and prints will be available for purchase through the Herman Miller webstore from October 1, 2024, and will be priced at $995 USD and $250 USD respectively. You can sign up for pre-access here.