Eames and Saarinen considered it a failure, as the tooling for molding a chair from a single piece of wood had not yet been invented. The chair won first prize, but its form was unable to be successfully mass-produced. Eames and Saarinen's goal was to mold a single piece of plywood into a chair the Organic Chair was born out of this attempt. Charles entered into a furniture competition-with his “best friend” Eero Saarinen-hosted by the Museum of Modern Art. Ray enrolled in various courses to expand upon her previous education in abstract painting in New York City under the guidance of Hans Hofmann. Charles arrived at the school on an industrial design fellowship as recommended by Eliel Saarinen, but soon became an instructor. He met Ray Gayber at Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1940. Among their most recognized designs is the Eames Lounge Chair and the Eames Dining Chair.Ĭharles Eames secured an architecture scholarship at Washington University, but his devotion to the practices of Frank Lloyd Wright caused issues with his tutors and he left after just two years of study. Charles was the public face of the Eames Office, but Ray and Charles worked together as creative partners and employed a diverse creative staff. They also worked in the fields of industrial and graphic design, fine art, and film. Honorary Doctorate, Otis College of Art and Design, 1984.Ĭharles Eames ( Charles Eames, Jr) and Ray Eames ( Ray-Bernice Eames) were an American married couple of industrial designers who made significant historical contributions to the development of modern architecture and furniture through the work of the Eames Office.

'The Most Influential Designer of the 20th Century' IDSA 1985

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