Eames DesignCharles and Ray Eames, a design team whose most well-known work came in the 40s and 50s, created world famous examples of fine art, architecture, literature and film. But the husband and wife team are most celebrated as designers of groundbreaking and extremely popular modern furniture. The influence of the Eames design aesthetic is still felt today, and there are few furniture collectors or manufacturers who don’t get an immediate mental picture when they hear the name Eames. So what, exactly, makes Eames design so special?
San Francisco native Eames Demetrios is the grandson of Charles and Ray Eames. A celebrated documentary filmmaker, he has directed various critically acclaimed projects including one focusing on the closing of the Eames studio. Today, Demetrios pursues his filmmaking and multimedia explorations as the director of the Eames office in Los Angeles, for whom he recently completed the film 77 Steps, a visual exploration of an Emeco chair manufacturing process. Here he gives us his own insights into his grandparents’ influential work:
- A bold idea. The basic concept behind Charles and Ray Eames’ most famous furniture designs came with a seemingly simple, but nonetheless groundbreaking, idea. According to Demetrios, they were convinced that they could build a comfortable chair out of molded plywood if only they could get the layered wood to mold in more than one direction at the same time.
- A simple design. Once they perfected their process for molding plywood, they were able to create designs that were pure in form, inexpensive to manufacture, and surprisingly elegant. Looking at a piece of Eames furniture, whether it be constructed of plywood, fiberglass or some other modern material, it’s difficult not to be touched by the way that simple beauty merges with functional practicality.
- Continued popularity. Demetrios considers it amazing that, in a world where design fads come and go, there are many examples of Eames furniture that have never gone out of production in a half century. This represents an incredible run, and he attributes the continued popularity to the fact that Charles and Ray were as dedicated to the ideas of comfort and low-cost as they were to the artistry of their designs.
- Inspiring work. Demetrios believes that his grandparents embody a lot of the reasons that people go into design in the first place. They believed that design can solve problems, make the world a better place, and still have an aesthetic component. The visionary designs of Charles and Ray Eames continue to inspire designers, architects and artists of all kinds. To get inspired yourself, try to see examples or images of their work in your local furniture gallery, museum, or bookstore.
For more information on Charles and Ray Eames and Eames design, check out the following organizations or websites.
The Eames Office
www.eamesoffice.com
Library of Congress: The Work of Charles and Ray Eames
www.loc.gov/exhibits/eames
Charles and Ray Eames by Marlena Donohue
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