Ralph Caplan

Ralph Caplan, born January 4, 1925 in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, is a well-known design consultant, writer in the field of design, author and public speaker.

Caplan entered Earlham College for a semester. In 1941, Caplan enlisted in the Marine Corps. He was 17 years of age at the time.

After his discharge from the Marines, Caplan re-entered Earlham College, graduated, and went for his Masters Degree at Indiana University. He later taught at Wabash College. While teaching at Wabash, he wrote his first book, a novel, "Say Yes", which was loosely inspired by his experience at Earlham.

Author of "By Design: Why There Are No Locks on the Bathroom Doors in the Hotel Louis XIV and Other Object Lessons", Caplan also writes about design for major design magazines and is a Director Emeritus of the International Design Conference in Aspen, Colorado.

Caplan has written extensively for and about Herman Miller Incorporated of Zeeland, Michigan.