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MillerKnoll Named 2026 Gala Honoree by Smithsonian Design Museum
May 26,
2026 by Karen Parrish in Business Strategy, Designer Weekly, Industry 
MillerKnoll Inc., a global collective of dynamic design brands that have helped shape the past century of American design, announced it was named a 2026 Gala Honoree by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.
MillerKnoll was honored at the Smithsonian National Design Awards Gala yesterday, May 19 in New York City alongside contemporary leaders, including Adobe, Target, Tiffany & Co., as well as historic figures, including Frederick Law Olmsted, Louis Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright. This acknowledgement positions the company among some of the most influential contributors to American design and culture.
Presented during the United States’ 250th anniversary year, the recognition highlights the pivotal role of design in Americans’ lives and how they will continue to live in the future – across industry, workplaces, and daily life, and the organizations that have contributed to that legacy.
“MillerKnoll has spent more than a century advancing American design through craftsmanship and innovation,” said Ben Watson, Chief Creative Officer of MillerKnoll. “To be recognized by Cooper Hewitt at this moment in the nation’s history is both an honor and a responsibility to carry forward a legacy defined by optimism, ingenuity, and a belief that design can drive progress.”
MillerKnoll builds on the combined legacies of Herman Miller and Knoll, two pioneers of modern design, spanning from the rise of modernism to the evolution of today’s rapidly evolving workplaces. This history continues to shape the company’s approach to contemporary design, exemplified in its recently unveiled MillerKnoll Archives facility in Michigan. The facility spans over 12,000 square feet and houses more than one million objects documenting the evolution of modern design. The Archives offer a tangible record of the ideas and innovations that have helped shape American design over generations.
Serving as a key resource for associates, architecture and design partners, academics, and global institutions the Archives is a place for visitors to immerse themselves in the brands’ legacy and gain inspiration as they design future products and solutions. Beyond its walls, the Archives is shaping major exhibitions—contributing to institutions through key loans that reflect how its brands have influenced the trajectory of modern design, from Michigan to New York, Milan and beyond.
Established in 2000 as part of the White House Millennium Council, the Smithsonian National Design Awards and its associated public programs seek to increase national awareness of the impact of design in our everyday life.. The annual gala supports Cooper Hewitt’s exhibitions, educational programs, and collection.