With as much style and innovation that modern furniture has to offer we rarely take a look at the past to see where the inspiration developed. Through research it’s easy to identify the key designers who played a roll in developing and transforming the modern century movement, names like Ray and Charles Eames, Eileen Gray and especially Florence Knoll. Although what’s typically overlooked is how Female designers played some of the most influential rolls in the development of the modern design era.

Florence Knoll was born in 1917 in Saginaw, Michigan. Studying under Mies van der Rohe and Eliel Saarinen. Rohe and Saarinen helped Knoll develop her ingenious talent for interior design, architecture, and furniture design. Knoll’s greatest example of interior design could be found in the office space. Her outlook for the office is clean, minimalist style which encourages an organized and effective environment. A perfect solution as the office is where we need to be the most productive and allow for optimal concentration. Florence’s main focus was on using a room’s space in the most effective nature that furniture would allow. Incorporating simple lines while transforming a drab area into a trendy effective masterpiece.

Knoll Associates was founded when Florence met Hans G. Knoll in the 40’s and convinced him that her architectural and design flair could help expand his interior design company. They later married in 1946, and she became a full business together. Knoll felt that architects should contribute their design ability to furniture as well. Her futuristic outlook of combining architecture into furniture design led to timeless classics.

Knoll’s interpretation of minimalist, rationalist design theories are clearly evident in Knoll’s storage pieces. Mixing mediums such as woods and metals together became Knoll’s favorite form of furniture medium. Dressers and desks are all square in her design, although never lack quality. Hanging cabinets have glass shelves, glass doors and sliding door fronts.

Architecturally speaking Knoll’s most famous creation was the Connecticut General Life Insurance building in Bloomfield, Connecticut and the interior of the CBS Building in New York City.