hermanmiller.comImage source: Jess Sorel
© The respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research.
Designer
Jess Sorel
Jess Sorel is an industrial designer whose career has spanned nearly twenty years in the contract furniture industry. He completed his industrial design major at the California College of Arts and Crafts, now the California College of the…
Biography
Background
Jess Sorel is an industrial designer whose career has spanned nearly twenty years in the contract furniture industry. He completed his industrial design major at the California College of Arts and Crafts, now the California College of the Arts, in 1992, then spent twelve years at Metro Furniture, seven of them as design director. In 2008 he launched his own studio, sorelstudio, for product design, creative direction and design strategy.
Signature Style
Sorel is driven by curiosity about the context in which objects are made and used. He draws on architecture, automotive and motorcycle design and fashion, works through sketches and models, and keeps asking whether a piece looks good in multiples. His Caid collection pairs an architecturally subtle outer shell with a softened interior.
Notable Works
- Palisade, healthcare waiting-room seating, tables and screening accessories for Nemschoff / Herman Miller
- Caid and Arno seating collections for Decca
- Move, Cruz, Kone, Blok and Vista for West Coast Industries
- Agility and Emme for Nucraft
Legacy
Sorel holds numerous design and utility patents. Caid was a Best of Year winner in the 2015 Interior Design awards, and his Palisade Flop Sofa has been recognised by the German Design Award, Best of NeoCon, the Chicago Athenaeum's Good Design programme and the Core77 Design Awards.
Specifying pieces from Jess Sorel for your design project?
INTEBEE is the FF&E specification platform for interior designers: spec sheets, finishes, floor plans and client-ready PDFs in one place.
Products
Palisade Chair
Mid-century inspired chair with a powder-coated metal frame.
Palisade Lounge Chair
A solid wood lounge chair with contemporary features and a nod to mid-century modern.
Palisade Booths
Waiting-room booth with an integrated table on an offset pedestal base for wheelchair access.
Palisade Sofas
Waiting-room sofa with mid-century inspiration and a choice of upholstered or open arms.
Palisade Bench
Low, linear bench with a powder-coated steel frame.
Palisade Flop Sofa
A healthcare sofa by Jess Sorel whose back cushion flops down to make a sleep surface.
Palisade Easy Access Multiple Seating
Seating raised more than six inches above standard height, with sturdy arms and a footrest.
Palisade Mobile Table
A mobile occasional table by Jess Sorel with a base that slides under seating.
Palisade Easy Access Plus Seating
A raised-seat hip chair with an extended seat width and frame, sized to include everyone.
Palisade Multiple Seating
Healthcare waiting-area seating with arms, tables and integrated power.
Palisade Easy Access Chair
A raised-seat chair with supportive arms and a footrest, on a powder-coated steel frame.
Palisade Side Table
An occasional side table by Jess Sorel that adds an extra surface to the waiting room.
