Favorite Eames Artifacts

The panel underneath the Eames-designed IBM kiosk is a favorite, with its multi-layered, hidden histories of technical art processes. Flowers from Michigan were shipped to California, photographed, & translated into a line engraving for Herman Miller’s stock certificates. In 1964, the bouquet image was revisited when it was hand-painted in full color, underneath the kiosk. --Kristen Gallerneaux, Curator of Communication & Information Tech

The vibrant, colorblocked layout of this postcard is as timeless as the Eames chairs themselves, and still makes the product look fun and inviting half a century later. The Eameses’ attention to detail and their unique design personality is evident in each vignette, with the use of patterns, plants, and props to create a whole scene. --Emily Kirk, Concept Designer

I absolutely love this bench. Its tuck-and-roll Naugahyde wouldn’t look out of place in the back seat of a ’64 sedan. That, in turn, reminds me of the neighboring World’s Fair attractions from GM and Ford: an updated version of Norman Bel Geddes’s “Futurama” and the Walt Disney-designed “Magic Skyway,” respectively. --Matt Anderson, Curator of Transportation

While filming a segment of The Henry Ford’s Innovation Nation, our chief curator remarked that Eames designs are so “elegantly commonplace,” we sometimes don’t notice them. One great example is the tandem seating commonly used in airports and other public spaces. Now, I’m always looking out for it! --Saige Jedele, Associate Curator, Digital Content

Until last year, a set of the Eames’ dining chairs supported more than just bodies around the dining table of my grandparents. Three generations came together to eat, play games, catch-up, make new friends, and build memories while sitting together. The chairs have since moved to a new home but will continue to foster relationships, as well as being icons of design. --Wing Fong, Experience Design Project Manager

I have been influenced by the Eameses’ appreciation for process and their “learn by doing” philosophy. Their example as both artists and problem solvers is one that I’ve attempted to adopt in my own design career. Known best for their movement defining Modern furniture and architectural designs, they have also had a profound impact on visual communications and graphic design. --Kevin M. Patten, Experience Design Senior Design Leader

When the Eames Lounge Chair was produced, there was nothing like it. It’s still one of the most sought out pieces of modern furniture almost 65 years after it began production. Everyone wants to sit in this chair. To learn history from this chair. I personally would like to have a nice nap in this chair. --Hannah Glodich, Graphic Designer

The gypsum crystal dunes in New Mexico’s Chihuahua Desert received protection in 1933 as White Sands National Monument. This reduced threats from acquisitive glass manufacturers and from missile tests launched from White Sands Proving Ground after 1945. The sands survived to inspire the palette and texture for the Eames Chair, as this advertisement conveys. --Debra A. Reid, Curator of Agriculture & the Environment

Asked to choose between beauty or function, Charles Eames responded “I should make a choice between keeping my head or my heart?” The Eames Leg Splint is a functional device and yet, it became sculptural in Charles and Ray’s hands. Designed early in their career together, it serves as an apt beginning to a career marked by solving functional problems beautifully. --Katherine White, Associate Curator

Having roots as a designer, I am instinctively drawn to the Eames’ work. It is purposeful, unique, and beautiful. As a mid-century modern collector, it’s a no-brainer to add their work to my home. It’s art you can use and enjoy every day. What’s better than that? --Matt Elliott, Manager, Digital Experience & Innovation

It may seem strange to pick a simple, unadorned sign, when the Eameses are so known for their visual and spatial work, but I love the fact that they included so many thought-provoking quotations in their Mathematica exhibit. This particular sentence from Isaac Newton speaks to all those who never stop learning. --Ellice Engdahl, Manager, Digital Collections & Content

Wood: it never really goes out of style. But when the Eameses came along in the 1940s, they took a new approach and showed that this universal material could be molded into a mesmerizing fluidity. Today, the hypnotism of their sculptural folding screens remains, demonstrating a synergy between form and function birthed from good design. --Ryan Jelso, Associate Curator, Digital Content

I love our collection of Herman Miller trade catalogs showcasing the works of Charles and Ray. I enjoy going through The Henry Ford's assortment of advertisements, dealer brochures, and guides while I think of what a fellow Eames admirer like myself might have been hoping to purchase more than a half a century ago. --Lish Dorset, Social Media Manager