Past as Prologue: The Last Decade of Furniture Design by Ray and Charles Eames (1968–78)

Past as Prologue: The Last Decade of Furniture Design by Ray and Charles Eames(1968–78) explores the final years of Eames furniture design, capturing how their work evolved to meet the emergent needs of modern workplaces. Volume worked with the Institute to create an experience that centers on the furniture, carefully selected by curator Llisa Demetrios, and surrounds it with the spirit and essence of the Eameses, giving visitors as much an entrée into their influences, process, and lives as the finished work. Over 40,000 people visited the exhibition during its six-month run.

A tour of the Eames Archives in Richmond with Llisa immediately catalyzed our design process, immersing us in everything Ray and Charles. It also gave us our conceptual throughline: When approached about the Lounge Chair and Ottoman design process, Charles was asked, “Did you think of the Eames chair in a flash?” His reply? “Yes, sort of a 30-year flash.”