Alexander "Sandro" Girard was one of the most innovative modern designers of the 20th century. Of all the great designers at Herman Miller in the 1950s and 1960s, Girard is the least well known. From 1952 to 1973, Girard led that company's textile division, where he brought color and life to the furniture creations of George Nelson and Charles & Ray Eames. Widely considered the greatest colorist and textile designer of modern time, Girard used traditional folk art to infuse color, whimsy, and humor into vibrant modern design. He was able to capture the essence of Latin America while still creating designs that were fresh and contemporary, finding the perfect balance of high and low art forms. In 2000 Girard was the subject of a major retrospective at the Cooper Hewitt, National Design Museum, confirming his place in the pantheon of great mid-century designers.
