His approach focused on the cantilever. By using tubular steel, he developed chairs that lacked back legs. These designs relied on the tensile strength of the metal to support the sitter. This technique produced a springy seat. After moving to Great Britain and then the United States, he also worked with laminated birch plywood and aluminium. His architectural projects, including the Project for Black Mountain College, show a similar interest in structural honesty.

Collectors of modern art prints value the clarity in his work. His designs for the Bauhaus 1919-1928 exhibition catalogue and his sketches for the "B35" Armchair avoid unnecessary ornament. These works represent the start of the International Style. The clean lines and geometric forms suit modern homes that prioritise utility. His drawings offer a technical perspective on the objects that defined twentieth-century interiors.