Designer

Charles & Ray Eames

Charles Eames, born in 1907, studied architecture and collaborated on design projects, earning a fellowship at Cranbrook Academy in 1938. In 1940, he and Eero Saarinen won MoMA's 'Organic Design' competition. Ray Eames, born Bernice Alexandra Kaiser in 1912, studied art and met Charles at Cranbrook. They married in 1941, moved to Los Angeles, and began experimenting with plywood molding for affordable furniture. Their work was showcased at MoMA in 1946, leading to a partnership with Herman Miller. The Eameses significantly influenced Vitra, which remains the authorized producer of their designs in Europe and the Middle East. Their philosophy still shapes Vitra, and the Vitra Design Museum continues to celebrate their legacy with exhibitions and publications.