Mid2Mod: Sonneman

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Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Robert Sonneman

Robert Sonneman started his career working for well-known lighting retailer George Kovacs in the 1960s. He launched his own lighting company under the Sonneman brand in 1967, selling his lighting in stores such as Bloomingdale's and Macy's. Many of the products introduced in the 60s and 70s have become classics of the modern era. For the next four decades, his award-winning designs have remained in the forefront of the lighting field and sell as well today as they did then.

In 1974, Sonneman founded the Sonneman Design Group, developing products for leading brands, including Lightolier, Sunbeam Appliance, Singer, Stanley Furniture, Brueton, Goody Products, Lifetime Brands and others. In 2003, along with partners David Littman and Sonny Park, he founded Sonneman--A Way of Light.

Since 1967 Sonneman's work has been displayed by the Museum of Modern Art, Chicago Art Institute, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, UCLA Exhibition on Design, Karnette County Art Museum and the Houston Contemporary Arts Museum.

Sonneman has participated and lectured at Stanford University, Pratt School of Architecture, Parsons School of Design, Philadelphia College of Art and UCLA. He was also a contributor on Chrysler and Toyota projects at the Art Center, Pasadena College of Design and served on the Nissan Design Advisory Board. He also served as president and CEO of Ralph Lauren Home Product Development from 1999-2005.

From sonnemanawayoflight.com