Interview with the Team of The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity
The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity is a nonprofit public charity that aims to equip everyone with the lessons of Ray and Charles Eames, so that anyone can solve problems through design.
After Ray and Charles passed away, the Eames family safeguarded the designers’ legacy by preserving the contents of the original Eames Office at 901 Washington in Venice, California, which now form the basis of the collection held by the Institute.
Containing tens of thousands of artifacts, the Eames Collection is a one-of-a-kind record of Ray and Charles’s extraordinary partnership that encapsulates their unique methodologies and diverse interests. It offers countless examples of their design process and illustrates the lessons we can take from their approach to design.
The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity is responsible for stewarding this remarkable body of work and is working to catalog and preserve the collection while also making it accessible to other institutions and the public through online and temporary exhibitions.
The Institute is headquartered at the Eames Archives, located in Richmond, California. Opened in February 2024, the newly refurbished space consolidates the Institute’s collection – the majority of which originates from the Eames Office at 901 Washington Boulevard in Venice, California – under one roof for the first time.
The Eames Archives is open to the public, featuring tours led by Llisa Demetrios, chief curator and youngest granddaughter of Ray and Charles of the vast Eames Collection.
“Recognizing the need is the primary condition for design.” Ray & Charles Eames
We recently chatted with the team from The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, and here’s what they shared with us. Take a look and enjoy the read!
In July of this year, you opened a new office—an exquisite workspace that is a true reflection of the creations of Ray and Charles Eames. What has the renovation and interior design process been like? What are the highlights of this project?
The whole process was a major undertaking—we transformed the space from an old medical equipment manufacturing facility into stunning new office spaces spread across two floors. Our design process sought to honor the history behind the Institute while also creating a contemporary, collaborative workspace.
This vision really came to life through the interior design, which was a highlight of the process. Our internal design team expertly executed a balance of both old and new designs when furnishing the interiors.
The offices feature countless pieces designed by Ray and Charles Eames, decorative lighting by Isamu Noguchi, wallpaper, textiles, and rugs designed by Alexander Girard for Maharam, and beautiful artworks by various artists.
The final result is something we are incredibly proud of and excited to share with the public.
The opening of this new headquarters in the Bay Area coincided with the public opening of the vast collection held by The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity. What was the motivation behind this, and how has it been received?
We see the office renovation as a seamless extension of the archives opening—both represent an exciting new chapter for the Institute.
The headquarters project was driven by the need to accommodate our growing team, whose work is crucial to the collection.
What’s more, the design of the headquarters evolved alongside the archives, drawing inspiration from the creativity and design excellence of the collection itself.
Your goal is to inspire contemporary audiences to engage in the practice of design, transmitting the legacy of Ray and Charles Eames. What kind of initiatives have you undertaken?
We’re excited to share that we’ve made the collection more accessible through themed exhibitions and our new publication series.
Since the Institute opened, we’ve discovered how eager people are to engage with the collection. That’s what inspired us to create this ongoing series of catalogs and exhibitions—to bring the work and lessons of Ray and Charles Eames to as many people as we can.
Ray & Charles Eames demonstrated—time and time again—design’s unique ability to address disparate clients’ needs, while finding ways to improve quality of life for all. What can we as designers and creatives learn from the Eameses that might apply to the challenges we face today?
When Ray and Charles were asked, “What are the boundaries of design?” they flipped the question, asking instead, “What are the boundaries of problems?”.
This mindset–a willingness to explore the “boundaries of problems”–is something we believe is essential for today’s generation of creatives and designers. In a world facing many challenges, the ability to develop new methodologies and innovations is critical to shaping a better future.
At the institute, we recognize the heart of this approach as abounding curiosity, a value we wish to impart to the world today through the Eames‘s legacy.
How many artifacts are part of the Eames Archives?
The collection houses over 40,000 objects.
Llisa Demetrios, granddaughter of Ray and Charles Eames, is preserving the legacy of Ray and Charles Eames. What else can you tell us about it?
Llisa Demetrios serves as the Institute‘s Chief Curator. She is deeply committed to inspiring others by sharing the unique approach her grandparents took to both life and work.
Through her role, Llisa aims to help others experience the same sense of limitless potential she witnessed firsthand, encouraging them to apply that mindset to their own world.
“Llisa is deeply committed to inspiring others by sharing the unique approach her grandparents took.”
The Eames Institute is also responsible for the Eames Ranch, a prototype of regenerative agriculture, water conservation, and land management located in Petaluma, California.
Yes, the Eames Ranch blends traditional and regenerative practices with innovative approaches, all aimed at fostering a vibrant ecosystem and creating models for better land management.
The Ranch serves as a living laboratory where we collaborate with conservationists, nonprofits, and educators to explore, test, and refine methods for land stewardship, habitat restoration, farming, and ranching. Rooted in Ray and Charle’s belief that nature is the ultimate designer, we look to honor the natural world and all the inspiration it provides.
“Ray and Charles belief that nature is the ultimate designer.”
You’ve also launched Artifacts from the Eames Collection, an incredible new series of publications that serve as comprehensive documentation of the pieces in the Eames Institute’s collection. How many have you published so far?
So far we have published six catalogs, each thematically arranged by exhibitions. The six exhibition catalogs now available for purchase include Tables, Ray’s Hand, Eames Aluminium Group, Toys & Play, Postcards, and Steinberg Meets the Eames.
Each publication features newly photographed artifacts to highlight design details. Also included is an introductory note from Llisa Demetrios, Chief Curator of the Eames Institute and granddaughter of Ray and Charles, as well as an essay written by a leading design expert, and a variety of archival material and photography from the Eames Office, Library of Congress, and the archives of Herman Miller and Vitra.
We are very excited about the ongoing series as they are the first print documentation of the archives and will allow more people to experience the collection, which is always our aim.
“What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts.” Ray & Charles Eames
This December, William Stout Architectural Books, the famous and legendary bookstore essential for architects and designers since 1974, located in the heart of San Francisco’s historic Jackson Square neighborhood, celebrated its 50th anniversary. Following the retirement of its founder, William “Bill” Stout, the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity has acquired it with the firm purpose of preserving Stout’s vital role in the design world. First of all, congratulations! Will you maintain the same activities as before, or are there any changes planned?
In 2022, we acquired the iconic bookstore and we’re incredibly proud to serve as stewards of this Bay Area institution. Our mission has always been to preserve and expand the store’s vital role in the design community.
Stout continues the same traditions and business, but since acquisition the institute has focused on the future–planning exciting initiatives that ensure the store continues to thrive for the next 50 years.
(*) Photographies provided by The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity.
