2) TOYS ARE A PRELUDE TO SERIOUS IDEAS
Charles and Ray often said that, “Toys are not really as innocent as they look. Toys and games are the prelude to serious ideas.” One of their grandsons, Eames Demetrios, explained their love for toys with this story: “My brother once brought a Super Ball up to the house, and he promptly broke a third-story window with it—Charles thought this was an excellent proof of concept. He said, ‘This toy is gonna work.’”
The Eameses fascination with toys, and their belief in the importance of playing with them, is one of the many reasons that they designed their own. In 1951, they created The Toy (pictured above) to be enjoyed by people of all ages. This idea is exemplified by the text on the instruction sheet:
The Toy is designed for many colorful hours of fun for the whole family, and each member can share and enjoy The Toy in his own way.
The baby as a bright world to grow in–
The small child as houses and tunnels and tents to play in–
The boys and girls as towers, puppet theaters, large and exciting structures–
The high school age as brilliant party decorations, plays and pageant sets–
In college as campus and house decorations, fantastic and brilliant hanging objects
to hover over a junior prom–
Young men and women, clubs, civic organizations, floats and festivals–
The Toy gives each one the means with which to express himself in big structures
and brilliant colors.
Creating a playful experience that everyone could benefit and learn from was a common theme throughout Charles and Ray’s work.
With the launch of Herman Miller’s Serious Fun article, we reflect on five things that Charles & Ray teach us about play.
1) INTERACTIVE PLAY CAN BE A FORM OF LEARNING
The Eameses used play as a form of learning; they applied this concept to their 1961 exhibition Mathematica (still on view today), thereby offering others the same opportunity. Charles and Ray pioneered the interactive exhibition format and demonstrated the merit of experiential, accessible, and fun learning environments.
The Eameses revealed the genuine fun of math and science to the broadest possible audience, letting “the cat out of the bag,” as Charles said. In organizing Mathematica, Charles and Ray worked with a talented staff and sought out experts in their field; yet they also followed one of their cardinal rules for any endeavor: They never delegated understanding. They committed themselves to unraveling every problem themselves. Philip Morrison said that, having worked as a consultant in a variety of offices, “…some of which had equally daunting artifacts around them, it was only at the Eames Office that the boss knew what they all meant.”
For decades, exhibition designers have looked to Mathematica as a model. Charles and Ray strived to develop an exhibition that would “…be of interest to a bright student and not embarrass the most knowledgeable,” in order to best reveal the inherent fun of ideas.
Via hermanmiller.com
Hugh Doan, a San Francisco Bay Area tech professional in marketing and advertising, is a lover of authentic Eames designs and Star Wars. His collection of all two is quite impressive. Many of his photos on Instagram not only highlight scale, but also combine his interest in Eames designs with his passion for Star Wars. When asked what sparked this series of images he answered, “I have a son, and it is like reliving a second childhood.”
Courtesy Hugh Doan via eamesoffice.com
Following the success of "The Kinfolk Table: Recipes for Small Gatherings", the Kinfolk team has released a second book, "The Kinfolk Home: Interiors for Slow Living". In "The Kinfolk Home", author and Kinfolk founder, Nathan Williams takes readers inside 35 homes around the globe, with several eamesian pieces. Each home reflects the values of ‘slow living’: simplifying our lives, slowing down and cultivating community. In addition to over 200 stunning interiors photographs, "The Kinfolk Home" shares the residents’ stories through insightful interviews and essays. While each home is unique – some modern and urban, others of heritage and legacy – all are connected by the ‘slow’ approach, put together carefully, thoughtfully, and with great intention.
Via www.kinfolk.com
