Gustav Stickley (1858 -1942) was an American design icon, a furniture maker, architect, and publisher. Through his designs, writings and teachings, he became a leading advocate of the Arts and Crafts movement, which flourished in the United States around the turn of the 20th century.

Based in a suburb of Syracuse, New York, Stickley's company manufactured furniture, metal- work, and textiles from 1900 to 1916. Although Stickley called his style “Craftsman”, it's also often referred to as “Mission” or “Mission Oak”.
Stickley believed furniture should be rational - that is, well-made, comfortable and practical. He wanted it to be attractive as well, but argued that its attractiveness should stem from a harmonious shape and quality materials, instead of superfluous, purely decorative details. The aim of good design (and, in fact, of the entire Arts and Crafts Movement) was "to substitute the luxury of taste for the luxury of costliness; to teach that beauty does not imply elaboration or ornament; to employ only those forms and materials which make for simplicity, individually and dignity of effect."

It was through The Craftsman magazine, which ran from 1901 to 1916, that Stickley promoted his principles. Along with articles about other Arts and Crafts advocates and designers, like John Ruskin and William Morris, the magazine published plans showing readers how to construct their own furniture, handicrafts, and even houses.

In addition to his monthly publication and furniture enterprise, Stickley owned and operated retail locations across the country including a flagship store in Manhattan that featured whole- home planning and shopping options with architectural services and a top floor farm-to-table restaurant. He owned a 650-acre farm in New Jersey that was to become a Craftsman school for children that is now a national historic landmark.