If you love the organic lines of contemporary furniture, you may be interested in the pieces designed by Charles and Ray Eames. Designed in the mid-20th century, they are considered some of the most influential pieces in the history of design. Charles was an established architect who became the head of the industrial design department at the Cranbrook Academy of Art. He met his future partner, Erno Saarinen, when he received a scholarship to attend the art school. The pair collaborated for years and the Organic Chair won an award at MoMa in 1940.
Charles Ormand Eames, Jr
A talented designer, Charles Ormand Eames Jr.’s designs are now widely recognized. Eames was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 1975, and the Eames Office has been featured in numerous exhibitions. Both Eames and Ray produced large body of work. Several of their projects are listed on the Museum of Modern Art’s website. This article will explore Ray and Charles’s collaboration.
The Eameses’ collaborative style began at a young age. After studying architecture at Washington University, Charles began working for architectural firms. Throughout his career, he had also worked in manufacturing. His industrial design background provided him with technical knowledge and experience that would later help him become a successful architect. Eames and Walsh were so successful they eventually formed a new architectural practice with Robert Walsh. Their designs won multiple MoMa awards.
Ray and Charles’ collaboration on their designs began at an early age. Charles had an idea, and Ray helped him refine it. They eventually married and worked side by side. Their collaboration led to a series of innovations in design and architecture. Eames’ designs are still popular today. One of their most famous designs, the Eames Chair, is a perfect example of the marriage between two creative minds. The Eames Office was a creative incubator for many young designers.
After Ray died in 1974, the Eames Office continued to operate. The Eameses’ design team continues to produce high-quality products for the mass market. The Eameses used readily available materials and often made modifications and improvements to the design after the first editions hit the assembly line. Their philosophy was simple: what works and lasts is better than what looks good. This philosophy is applied to their designs.
In addition to his work for a variety of industries, Eames also created a number of iconic designs. His work has been widely praised, and his collaboration with his wife, Ray, continued to be influential. He and Ray lived in this home until their deaths. The Eames House is a tribute to their work and the principles behind it. The Eames House is a sustainable design, and is a prime example of post-war suburban architecture.
As well as designing furniture for the world’s most famous interior designers, Eames also collaborated with other famous designers. Saarinen, another notable design influence, convinced Eames to pursue architecture. In the mid-1930s, Charles Eames was the head of the industrial design department at Cranbrook Academy of Art. In addition to designing homes, he worked on film projects and exhibitions.
Eames was born June 17, 1907, in St. Louis, Missouri, and studied architecture at Washington University. After two years, the university dropped him because of his “modern” outlook. He subsequently attended the Cranbrook Academy of Art. After graduation, he married Bernice Alexandra Kaiser, and they eventually moved to Los Angeles. The Eames’ first daughter, Bernice, was born on June 20, 1942.
Besides being an accomplished architect, Eames’ design skills are timeless. His house in Pacific Palisades, California, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was once featured in LIFE magazine, but was never a perfect home. It was full of random objects, from marionetas to jars to ficus trees. The home was not an ideal model of a magazine house, but it was certainly filled with memories and adornments from their life.
The Eames office was established in 1943, and is now the largest and most successful furniture company in the world. A history of the Eameses’ work is presented on the website. Videos, animations, and information will help you relive the rich legacy of this epoch. Eames’ leg splints for the military are listed only as the work of Charles Eames.