Molded plywood carries an immediate association with classic Herman Miller designs, and Mark Goetz, principal of TZ Design in New York City, skillfully and creatively incorporates this material in his sofa design. While traditional construction consists of a wooden frame with padding and upholstery applied over it, the Goetz sofa turns tradition inside out, since its plywood shell is clearly visible as both an aesthetic element and a structural frame.

The sofa's practicality extends to one of its most important features--comfort. Goetz conducted his own research and consulted with other experts to arrive at a seat depth that gives ergonomic support as well as room to lie down.

Goetz said that designing the sofa was a "daunting challenge" because it was to be part of the Herman Miller Collection of classic home and office products that define 20th century design. "If I were sitting in a room with Eames, Nelson, and Noguchi, and we were discussing design, I would be listening rather than talking," he said. "When designing the sofa, I took on that role, trying to understand the qualities of the collection that make it so wonderful. I wanted to create something that echoes the collection and respectfully adds to it."