The iconic movement known as “Mid-Century Modern” design burst onto the scene after World War II, evolved through the 1960s and 70s, and continues to inspire the most sought-after home and office designs in the U.S. and abroad. 

Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills played a crucial role in incubating both the talent and the aesthetic of the MCM movement. Leading architects, designers and artists such as Ray and Charles Eames, Florence Knoll, and Eero Saarinen all got their start at Cranbrook. Many of their designs were manufactured by the Herman Miller Company in Grand Rapids.

MillerKnoll Curatorial Fellow Bridget Bartal will give Bay View audiences an exclusive, sneak peek at her groundbreaking research, which details the rich, intertwined history of Cranbrook and the MCM movement. The first-ever exhibition and publication, titled Eventually Everything Connects: Making Mid-Century Modern, will be unveiled at Cranbrook in the summer of 2025.