Andrew Morrison and Bruce Hannah both graduated from Pratt Institute with degrees in industrial design in 1963. After graduating, they pursued separate design practices with companies in the greater New York area, gaining experience across design and manufacturing.

The pair began collaborating in the late 1960s, when they developed a new seating collection for Knoll. Working from a studio at 27 Howard Street in Manhattan, they focused on prototyping as a central part of their design process. Working prototypes allowed them to assess each design through direct interaction and refine the relationship between structure, materials and manufacturing.

Their first prototype was an injection-moulded plastic chair comprising two side frames, a stretcher, and a simple fabric seat and back. The chair was designed for self-assembly without tools, reflecting their focus on efficient construction and material use. Its recyclable construction also anticipated a design approach centred on material efficiency and disassembly.