Icons of Design
Welcome back to the Creative Awards London blog where we bring you the very latest from our custom made awards and trophies. Last week we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus movement showcasing some of the iconic designs that have seeped their way into the collective consciousness of the World. Truly a remarkable movement that has became part of our day to day lives. In this week’s blog entry, we continue our theme of design trends and inspirational design by looking at Charles & Ray Eames, their lives, their work and their impact within the design world.
Ray and Charles Eames were pioneers within the development of modern architecture and furniture design in addition to working across the fields of industrial and graphic design, fine art, and film. For more than four decades, the Eames Office based in Venice, Los Angeles served as the creative hub for their designs and work. Their unique to approach to design also extended to their working practices and the Eames Office employed local people, war veterans and housewives. The Eameses also believed in "learning by doing"- before introducing a new idea at the Eames Office, Charles and Ray explored needs and constraints of the idea extensively.
Eames Furniture
Ray and Charles Eames are known for their iconic range of furniture that seamlessly blended traditional craftsmanship, modernism and an innate understanding of materials. Famous examples of Eames furniture include the molded-plywood DCW (Dining Chair Wood) and DCM (Dining Chair Metal with a plywood seat) (1945) and of course the Eames Lounge Chair (1956).
The Eames Chair and Ottoman
Arguably the most important contribution to modern furniture design and the Eameses most famous design the Eames Chair and Ottoman that were originally designed as a gift to filmmaker Billy Wilder, who they'd noticed had been creating makeshift lounge chairs during his shoots to take short naps. Designed to capture the look and feel of "a well-used first baseman's mitt," the chair has come to represent the very finest in timeless design. The Eames Lounge Chair is mainly comprised of molded plywood, the molding process allowing for smooth and perfect curves the with warming flourishes of soft, earthy leather garnished with strands rubber and metal that effortlessly combine to create balance and harmony in a striking piece. The lounge chair and ottoman set exudes luxury offering a welcome space for the user to unwind and relax. Indeed, Charles Eames said his goal for the chair was that it be "a special refuge from the strains of modern living."
The Influence of The Eameses
Charles passed away in 1978 and in 1988, decade later to the day, Ray died. A lifetime of work was left behind, work that still remains as the benchmark for all designers. Work that has permeated the collective beauty of design and taste. The immeasurable aesthetic sense is only matched by the energy within the pieces that excludes a pure form of creativity, the ability to find beauty in the ordinary and, ultimately, a celebration of life in all its forms.