Herman Miller’s Iconic ‘Watermelon Picnic’ Poster Makes A Delicious Comeback

Herman Miller is bringing back a beloved gem from its archives. The iconic Watermelon Picnic poster, created in the 1970s, is being re-released, allowing art and design enthusiasts to relish in its vibrant and nostalgic charm.
 
Steve Frykholm, a graphic designer at Herman Miller, created the Watermelon Picnic poster back in 1972 for an employee picnic. The company’s founder, D.J. De Pree, established a long-standing tradition of hosting employee get-togehters, and part of this was to make prints to mark each occasion.
 
The poster features a striking watermelon slice, and the combination of red, green, and black conveys the carefree spirit of summer picnics, freshness, and joy. At top are the words, “Herman Miller summer picnic,” with the date August 20, 1971.

The Watermelon Picnic print became a part of Herman Miller’s design ethos and played a significant role in shaping the company’s identity alongside other famous pieces like the Sweet Corn Festival poster—which incidentally kicked off the tradition of creating these prints.
 
The newly reissued version of Watermelon Picnic is manufactured in the same studio as the original in 1971 and is printed onto 100% cotton paper. It will come framed in American maple with black, white, and natural finishes.
 
If you’re ready to bite into a slice of this timeless piece of design heritage, it is now up for sale on the Herman Miller website for US$895.
 
 

[via Hypebeast and Herman Miller, images via Herman Miller]