2. Who are they?
• Charles Ormond Eames Jr (1907-1978) born in
St Louis, Missouri.
• Bernice Alexandra “Ray” Eames (1912-1988)
born in Sacramento, California.
3. Where did they study?
• Charles attended Washington University and
studied architecture.
• Ray studied painting with Hans Hoffman in
New York, before moving to the Cranbrook
Academy of Art in Michigan.
Eames Office (2013). Charles and Ray. Retrieved from http://eamesoffice.com/charles-
and-ray/. April 2013.
4. What did they work as?
• Charles was an architect and
co director at the Cranbrook
Academy of Art.
• Ray met Charles at the
Academy.
• Their first project together was
the organic design and home
furnishings competition in late
1940.
MoMa. (2013). Charles Eames. Retrieved
from
http://www.moma.org/collection/browse_
results.php?criteria=O%3AAD%3AE%3A167
1&page_number=2&template_id=1&sort_
order=1/
5. What made them famous?
• The competition launched their careers as
furniture designers and architects.
• Their most well known piece is The Eames
Lounge Chair and Ottoman (1956).
• The chair was called “the chair of the century”
by influential critic Esther McCoy.
Eames Office. (2013). Charles and Ray.
http://eamesoffice.com/charles-and-ray/
7. Eames Lounge Chair
• “Boldly sculptural in form, it represents
engineering and manufacturing prowess that has
become emblematic of the Modern Movement. It
celebrates important personalities and a mood of
positivism far removed from todays world.
Although created within living memory, the
Eames Lounge chair recalls an era of American
life and design belonging to the halcyon past.”
Eidelberg, M., Hine, T., Kirkham, P., Hanks, D.A., Peatross, C.F. (2006).
The Eames Lounge Chair. London : Merrell.
8. Who influenced them?
• Eliel Saarinen was one of Charles’ greatest
influences.
• He was a teacher at the Cranbrook Academy.
• He was from Finland.
• His style was minimal, simple and used
beautiful materials.
• May Friend Bennett School in New York
influenced Ray when she attended. There she
studied theatre, dance and art.
9. What do you found interesting about
them?
• Charles worked as a film set designer at the MGM Studio
workshops.
• Charles was kicked out of university for his avocation of Frank Lloyd
Wright.
• Ray and Charles met while Ray was studying at the Academy and
Charles was employed.
• Ray died 10 years later than Charles died on exactly the same day.
Interviewer to Charles Eames- “How would you define yourself with
respect to a decorator? And interior architect? A stylist?.
Charles- “I wouldn’t.”
Berry, J.R. (2004). Herman Miller, Classic Furniture and System Designs for the working environment. London :
Thames and Hudson.
10. How does their work continue to
influence contemporary design?
• They are responsible for many classic and
iconic designs of the 20th century.
• They pioneered new technologies such as
fiberglass, molded plywood and plastic resin.
• Their focus on usability and functionality is
still prevalent in modern design today.
11. Eames House
Eames, C. (1949). Charles Eames House [Photograph]. Retrieved from ARTstor
database.
12. How does their work influence us?
• Their work is relevant to us as designers
because it is so famous and iconic that nearly
every office chair is related to their designs.
• Their functional approach to design influences
us today.
13. Eames’ Work
Eames,C.,&Eames,R.(1960).Molded
fiberglass stacking shell chairs
[Photograph]. Retrieved from Herman
Miller. Classic furniture and system designs
for the working environment. Eames, C., & Eames, R. (1946). LCM Low Side Chair [Photograph].
Retrieved from ARTstor database.
14. “There is no
Eames style.
Only a legacy of
problems,
beautifully and
intelligently
solved.” Bill Lacy.
Berry, J.R. (2004). Herman Miller, Classic
Furniture and System Designs for the
working environment. London : Thames
and Hudson.
15. References
• Berry, J.R. (2004). Herman Miller, Classic Furniture and System
Designs for the working environment. London : Thames and
Hudson.
• Eidelberg, M., Hine, T., Kirkham, P., Hanks, D.A., Peatross, C.F.
(2006). The Eames Lounge Chair. London : Merrell.
• Eames Office. (2013). Charles and Ray.
http://eamesoffice.com/charles-and-ray/
• Eames Office. (2013). Furniture. http://eamesoffice.com/furniture/
• Sibthorp, F., Quin, S. (2012). Chairs, 20th Century Classics. UK : New
Holland Publishers.
• Albercht, D., Colomina, B., Giovannini, J., Lightman, A., Lipstadt.,
Morrison, P. (1997). The work of Charles and Ray Eames: A legacy of
invention. New York : Harry N. Abrams.
16. Credits
• Laura Wallace- Education, Deaths, Influence
on us.
• Jessica Noone- Work, Who influenced them,
Influence on us.
• Nick Finlay- Education, Interesting points,
Influence on us.
• Elsie Duke- Births, What made them famous,
Influence on us.
• All team members- photos and quotes.
