David Rowland

The American industrial designer and inventor David Rowland is best known for his signature 40/4 chair. Released in 1964, it is so named because it is possible to stack forty chairs in just four feet—an unprecedented achievement that established an entirely new category of versatile seating.

Rowland’s wife Erwin and writer Laura Schenone reveal the inspiring story of how he brought his ground-breaking design to market. Initially, it was rejected by all the major furniture brands, including Herman Miller and Knoll, but Rowland persevered, and ultimately, the 40/4 chair became one of the most successful chairs ever produced. It won numerous accolades and sold over 8 million by the early 21st century. Today, it is found in the permanent collections of museums worldwide and graces public and private spaces of every type—from cathedrals to cultural centres, corporate and municipal buildings, to places of worship, schools, healthcare, hospitality, and homes.

This fascinating biography of David Rowland and his 40/4 chair, featuring more than 250 photographs and documents (many never seen before), tells the compelling story of his design practice and a singular chair. Through the determination of its designer, it became the commercially successful and influential classic that it is.

The first monograph on the American designer, David Rowland: 40/4 Chair, is published to mark the 60th anniversary of this timeless design and includes the wide range of Rowland’s work before and after the development of his masterpiece.