Charles Eames (1907-78) and Ray Eames (1912-88) " gave shape to America's twentieth century." Their lives and work represented some of their nation's defining social movements: the West Coast's coming-of-age, the economy's shift from making goods to the producing information, and the global expansion of American culture.
The Eameses embraced that era's visionary concept of modern design as an agent of social change, almost elevating it to a national agenda. Their evolution from furniture designers to cultural ambassadors, demonstrated their boundless talents and the overlap of their interests with those of their country. In a rare era of shared objectives, the Eameses partnered with thefederal government and the country's
top businesses ( like IBM) to lead the charge to modernize postwar America.
Charles and Ray Eames's careers in the 1950s mirrored America's postwar shift from an industrial economy of goods to a post-industrial society of information. Rather than furnishings and buildings, the Eames Studio focused its efforts on communication systems - such as exhibitions, publications, and films.
The Eameses produced these media for governments at home and abroad, for industry, and for the education and pleasure of their friends and colleagues. In these activities the Eameses used the familiar imagery of daily rituals and entertainments, vernacular landscapes, and ordinary objects to promote popular culture as the currency of exchange between nations and people. These communications projects elevated Charles and Ray Eames to the status of cultural ambassadors and interpreters of the meaning of America cultural style and its expression.
Assignment: Digital 2 - "Design as an agent of social change", two pages double spaced - with copious illustrations. A reasoned, well researched, persuasive analysis on the role of design as an agent of change - find examples, good ones.
If you dont do this within 2 classes, you will not be allowed to come on the free Hawaii trip at Christmas.
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