Charles & Ray Eames

Charles and Ray Eames were a husband-and-wife team of American designers who made significant contributions to modern architecture, furniture design, industrial design, and graphic design.

Charles Ormond Eames Jr. was born on June 17, 1907, in St. Louis, Missouri, while Bernice Alexandra "Ray" Kaiser Eames was born on December 15, 1912, in Sacramento, California. Charles studied architecture at Washington University in St. Louis, while Ray studied painting at the Art Institute of Chicago.

The Eameses met in 1940 when Charles was commissioned by the Museum of Modern Art in New York City to design a chair. Ray was working as a painter and textile designer at the time and was asked to assist with the project. The two quickly fell in love and married in 1941.

Together, the Eameses designed some of the most iconic furniture of the 20th century, including the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, the Eames Molded Plywood Chair, and the Eames Wire Chair. They also worked on a wide range of other projects, including exhibitions, films, and toys.

One of their most famous contributions was their use of new materials, such as molded plywood and fiberglass, in furniture design. Their designs were characterized by their sleek, modern lines, attention to detail, and innovative use of materials.

The Eameses also worked on a number of architectural projects, including the Eames House in Pacific Palisades, California, which they designed as their own residence in 1949. This house has become an icon of modernist architecture and is now open to the public as a museum.

Charles Eames passed away on August 21, 1978, while Ray Eames passed away on August 21, 1988. Their designs continue to be celebrated today for their beauty, functionality, and innovative spirit, and their influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary designers.