Eames Inspired

ArtPrize brought our graphic design class to a presentation by Carla Hartman, the granddaughter of Charles and Ray Eames, renowned designers of the famous Eames chair. As young designers and artists, we were motivated by the longevity of the Eames’ designs, as well as the thoughts and inspiration of the creative method. We came away with the desire to be innovative in appearance as well as functionality, the courage to inject our designs with our own personalities, and the permission to enjoy the practice of trial and error. Herman Miller led us in a workshop where we were challenged to use the passion of the Eames design process to develop our own innovative, functional, and whimsical chairs. We had a variety of materials such as fabric, foam shapes, pipe cleaners, and other embellishments. Each artist created a chair unique to his or her own perceptions of innovative and functional design. The final products displayed in this book reveal plenty of personality and joy in an object as useful as a chair.