Photographs from the Charles Eames Centennial Portfolio 2007

Ray and Charles Eames were a husband-and-wife team of designers who made a significant impact on the world of furniture and industrial design in the mid-20th century. They were both born in the early 1900s in the United States, and they met while studying at the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan.

After finishing their studies, Ray and Charles Eames started a design studio in Los Angeles, California, where they began to experiment with new materials and techniques for furniture design. Their approach was based on a desire to create furniture that was both functional and aesthetically pleasing, and they were particularly interested in using new materials like molded plywood and fiberglass to achieve this goal.

One of the Eameses' most famous designs was the "Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman," which was introduced in 1956. This chair became an icon of mid-century modern design and is more... still in production today. Another notable design was the "Eames Molded Plywood Chair," which was produced using a process that involved bending plywood in a way that had never been done before.

In addition to furniture design, Ray and Charles Eames also worked on a wide range of other design projects, including films, graphics, and exhibitions. They were particularly interested in exploring the potential of new technologies like film and photography to communicate ideas and information in innovative ways.

Throughout their career, Ray and Charles Eames received numerous awards and accolades for their work, including several prestigious design awards from the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Their designs continue to be highly influential today and are often seen as a symbol of the mid-century modern aesthetic that remains popular in interior design and architecture. less...