# Total Design Relates Everything to Everything by George Nelson > “Total design is nothing more or less than a process of relating everything to everything.” > **— George Nelson**, *Herman Miller design director, 1945–1972* ## Sources and Context - **Direct authoritative text:** [George Nelson — Herman Miller](https://www.hermanmiller.com/designers/nelson/) — Herman Miller, where Nelson served as design director, quotes him declaring that “total design is nothing more or less than a process of relating everything to everything,” in a passage on why designers must cultivate broad knowledge rather than narrow specialization. - **Editorial note:** The opening word is capitalized because the poster begins with it; Herman Miller prints it in lowercase within a sentence. No original publication or page locator was available. ## Related Articles and Collections - **Collection:** [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] - **Collection:** [[collections/American|American Collection]] - **American route:** [[american/American Aesthetic - Interior Design and Space Composition|Interior Design and Space Composition]] ## Related Topics - [[wiki/George Nelson|George Nelson]] ## Share on Social Media ``` “Total design is nothing more or less than a process of relating everything to everything.” — George Nelson, Herman Miller design director, 1945–1972 https://bryantmcgill.com/simple-reminders-george-nelson-total-design ```