Born in 1908, George Nelson studied architecture at Yale University and then won a scholarship to study at the American Academy in Rome from 1932-34. In 1947 he opened his own office, George Nelson Associates, Inc. where he worked with such notables as Irving Harper, Ernest Farmer, Gordon Chadwick, George Tscherny and Don Ervin.

During the following years of collaboration with Vitra, a close friendship developed between George Nelson and Rolf Fehlbaum. George Nelson died in New York in 1986. His estate, held by the Vitra Design Museum, includes some 7400 manuscripts, plans, drawings, photographs and slides produced by the designer from 1924 to 1984.