Charles Eames (1907–1978)

• Born in St. Louis, Missouri

• In 1938, moved his family to Michigan so he
could study architecture at Cranbrook Academy of
Art. Design instructor from 1939-40.
• Influenced by the work of Eliel Saarinen; became
a close friend and colleague of Aero Saarinen.
Ray (Kaiser) Eames (1912–1988)
• Born in Sacramento, CA
• Studied painting in New York with abstract
expressionist, Hans Hoffman.
• In 1940, Ray began studying weaving, ceramics,
and metal work at Cranbook, where she met
Charles Eames.
• Charles and Ray married in 1941 and moved to
Los Angeles, CA to start their design practice.

Charles & Ray

Eames Architect, Furniture & Industrial Design, Art, and Film Husband/Wife Duo
 “Charles and Ray, they didn't obsess about style for
it's own sake. They didn't say, "Our style is curves.
Let's make the house curvy." They didn't say "Our
style is grids. Let's make the chair griddy." They
focused on the need. They tried to solve the
design problem. Charles used to say, "The extent
to which you have a design style is the extent to
which you have not solved the design problem." It's
kind of a brutal quote. This is the earlier design of
that house. And again, they managed to figure out a
way to make a prototype of a house. Architecture,
very expensive medium.”
-Eames Demetrios, grandson of Charles and Ray

Guest/Host Relationship:
Role of the designer is essentially that of a
good host anticipating the needs of the guest.
• Comfort, look, price, value, longevity.
• “Less is more”, “form follows function”.
• Designer is responsible for the client/customer.

Design Philosophy
1959 Herman Miller Brochure
Eames Lounge Chair Wood or LCW (1946)
Molded plywood, Mahogany and Rosewood

Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman (1956)

Molded Brazilian rosewood veneers, leather

Eames Storage Unit (1950)

Wood and steel
 "Charles Eames' own house was one of a number of Case Study
Houses sponsored by the West Coast journal Arts and Architecture.
The aim of the magazine was to seek out new design
ideas—particularly in the use of new materials and techniques—and
to propagate good design. Eames' house was certainly
unconventional, a package of standard, off-the-peg components
which, when assembled, made up an art-work as unique as a
Eames House Duchamp ready-made.
Case Study House 8 — Dennis Sharp. A Visual History of 20th Century Architecture (p170).
Pacific Palisades, CA