Designing the American dream: Charles and Ray Eames

The Californian couple Ray and Charles Eames designed functional objects with the help of highly precise technology, while making sure they looked interesting aesthetically. This was the recipe for their success, which brought them worldwide fame. On this picture, the two designers are lying underneath the metal structures of their chairs.

In 1956, Ray and Charles Eames created an icon of modern style design with the Lounge Chair and its accompanying Ottoman. The comfort of these furnishings is unparalleled, which can explain why they became so popular among well-off customers. Examples of this club chair are shown in New York's Museum of Modern Art.

After plywood, fiberglass and other materials borrowed from industrial design, the Eames also experimented with wire. Shown here are their Wire Chairs. Also a photographer, Charles Eames took this picture of their design himself.

Eames designs can be found in lecture halls, executive offices, meeting rooms and restaurants around the world, with chairs made of plastic, plywood, metal, or wire. Comfortable design classics created by the Eames also furnish this conference hall at the Berlin Chancellery.

Ray and Charles Eames established themselves as artists through exceptional multimedia installations. During the first Soviet-American cultural exchange event in 1959, their short film "Glimpses of the USA" was projected on seven huge screens in Moscow. The film showed the humanity of American families - and brought the Soviet audience to tears.

They interpreted the American dream as an "easy way of living," portrayed by beautifully furnished homes with high ceilings and with a view on a luxuriant backyard. In their own house in Los Angeles, the famous architects integrated structures made of steel and glass.

This photo shows the garden of their house. Charles and Ray Eames lived and worked here from 1949, when the house was completed, until their death. It was conceived as part of the Case Study House Program sponsored by the influential US magazine "Arts & Architecture." Today it is a listed house and is considered one of the 10 most important buildings in Los Angeles.

Charles Eames may have been physically taller than his wife, but on a creative level, they were at eye level. They established themselves as two of the most important designers of the 20th century through their groundbreaking contributions to architecture, furniture design and arts.

On pictures, the two designers are shown as a happy couple caring for their work. They would also portray themselves using the furniture they designed in everyday life. The productive duo knew how to market their image as a brand. The London Barbican Art Gallery explores these aspects in its exhibition "The World of Charles and Ray Eames," shown until February 2016.