No Compromise: The Work of Florence Knoll

by Ana Araujo

Florence Knoll (1917–2019) was a leading force of modern design. She worked from 1945 to 1965 at Knoll Associates, first as business partner with her husband Hans Knoll, later as president after his death, and, finally, as design director. Her commissions became hallmarks of the modern era, including the Barcelona Chair by Mies van der Rohe, the Diamond Chair by Harry Bertoia, and the Platner Collection by Warren Platner. She created classics like the Parallel Bar Collection, still in production today.

Knoll invented the visual language of the modern office through her groundbreaking interiors and the creation of the acclaimed "Knoll look," which remains a standard for interior design today. She reinvigorated the International Style through humanizing textiles, lighting, and accessories. Although Knoll's motto was "no compromise, ever," as a woman in a white, upper-middle-class, male-dominated environment, she often had to make accommodations to gain respect from her colleagues, clients, and collaborators. No Compromise looks at Knoll's extraordinary career in close-up, from her student days to her professional accomplishments.

Genres: Nonfiction

208 pages, Hardcover

Published June 22, 2021

Reviews

[Greg · Rating 1 out of 5]

Flo deserves a much better book. This reads like a high school term paper. The author tries to spoil these beautiful spaces by trotting out lots of gobbledy gook about how they served as backdrops to discrimination. Halfway through l had to give up and just look at the pictures.

[Hans Hoffmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

A world wind tour of the events leading up to January 6th and through early Biden presidency. Some things I have ready now many times before, Trumps yelling at everyone who he feels betrayed him. The military leaderships attention to duty, while being shown no respect by Trump. The tension in the oval office, not one book I have read make it seem like a fun place to work in the Trump admin. Some Senators who I do not like I did get a better understanding of their motivations - Sen McConnell always takes the long term approach and does not get caught up in emotion, do not like him but a very gifted politician. Sen Manchin, he is powerful since he is a D from a overwhelming red state, he can reign in the progressives, he has to if he is going to sell a bill to his constituents. It was a quick read and I have read several Woodward books, he is connected and always has good sources. The people around Trump who support him tout his achievements - but turn a blind eye to the damage he caused the nation. A strong part of the book is providing details on the case for "a stolen election" - dead people voting, underaged, in prison etc..all were far fetched and easily debunked.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Good design is good business.” - Florence Knoll

“Her way of working has proven to endure, evolve, and spread in prolific directions. It has influenced design and culture, more generally, in ways that are not always obvious but that have a strong and lasting impact.”

This book took me directly back to design school. I loved reading about the collaboration between the greats - Saarinen, Mies, Bertoia, Breuer, even connections to the Eames. But most importantly, the book covers the ambition and legacy of Florence Knoll, the doors she opened for women in the design world and business. There are parts of the book that hint that she made more compromises than her anthem suggests. Perhaps, but any progress made for women’s equality and Knoll’s influence should be celebrated accordingly.

[Jennifer Naslund Deutz · Rating 2 out of 5]

It took me two years to finish this book. Good nuggets of info and love the photos, but reads like first draft. Points are made with a promise to be elaborated on "later" but then those things are never mentioned again. 2/5