In 1939, while working at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, it was Charles and architect Eero Saarinen who explored the first single-shell expression, using molded plywood, through their Kleinhans Chair design. They did not have the ability to produce its three-dimensional curves, however. In 1941, Charles and Eero once again took on the concept of a molded-plywood single-shell chair, placing entries in the Museum of Modern Art’s “Organic Design” competition. They won first place, but once again, could not produce their design due its manufacturing difficulties.

That same year, Charles and Ray, who had met at Cranbrook, married and moved to California. There the couple experimented with their own plywood-molding techniques in attempts to render a three-dimensional, curved form. Along the way, their efforts yielded stretchers, lightweight, stackable leg splints (1942), and a glider seat (1943) for the U.S. Navy during World War II. While they learned much from these developments, they still had to cut and score the veneer in order to manipulate it.

When the war ended, Charles and Ray applied their plywood-molding process to the concept of a mass-produced chair that found comfort in dimensionally shaped surfaces instead of cushioned upholstery. When plywood still could not withstand the stresses of a single-shell form, they created a chair with separate molded-plywood panels for the back and seat: the Eames Molded Plywood Chair (1946).

By 1948, the duo returned to the single-shell form, entering a prototype in stamped metal in the Museum of Modern Art’s “International Competition for Low-Cost Furniture Design”; it won second place. The design was heavy and expensive to produce, however, so Charles and Ray investigated something new: plastic, a lightweight material that could be molded into organic shapes to conform to the body. The result in 1950 was the single-shell Eames Molded Plastic Chair, the first-ever mass-produced plastic chair.

Through the years, Charles and Ray — believers that their designs should be refined — allowed this chair to continue to evolve. Among its changes and updates: in the late 1980s, fiberglass-reinforced plastic shells were found less suitable for the environment. Ray and Herman Miller discussed discontinuing the chairs, and in the early 1990s, Herman Miller ceased production. By 2000, after exploring more sustainable solutions, the company reintroduced the design, sourcing it from Vitra in 100% recyclable polypropylene.

This year, the landmark design takes another step forward in its journey as the Eames Molded Wood Side Chair. This new expression of the classic introduces wood material to the form for the first time. Today’s 3-D veneer technology slices the wood into spaghetti-thin strips and then glues them back together — giving the material the flexibility to be curved, molded, and shaped into Charles and Ray’s ever-evolving, single-shell design.

The Eames Molded Wood Side Chair is available now in the Herman Miller Store. Want to try your luck in our “Everywhere in Your Day” contest? Click here.

What do you listen to while you work?
In the morning we usually listen to something mellow and ambient since that’s when we do a lot of our emailing. In the afternoon, we usually put on something with a little more kick, and if it’s going to be an all-nighter then 80′s music is the go to.

How do you listen?
We usually listen to music throughout the day on our Sonos and we each take turns putting on different music. If one of us really needs to focus or our cat won’t stop nagging for food, we throw on some Bose noise-cancelling headphones.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
iTunes and KEXP.

Does music influence your work?
We recently illustrated some idyllic forest scenes for a children’s hospital and we listened a lot to Beethoven’s Symphony No.6 while creating them. That music really invoked the feeling that we wanted to portray and helped us get into the right mental space while we were creating the various scenes.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
KEXP in Seattle is probably our favorite source for new music.

If your work was a song or a musician, what or who would it be?
Ha! This is a tricky one. We honestly have no idea, but it’d be pretty sweet if it could be “Linus and Lucy” by the Vince Guaraldi Trio.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist is the Eames Molded Plywood Chair in walnut.

Do you have Herman Miller pieces in your studio, home office (or anywhere else in your home)?
We have several Herman Miller pieces in both our home and office, and while they’re all fantastic, we’d say our favorite is the Eames Aluminum Management Chair. When you’re sitting all day long, it’s really important to have a chair that’s comfortable and supports your back for long hours. And it doesn’t look too shabby either.

Sarah & Ryan’s Playlist:
1. You Send Me, Sam Cooke
2. Heaven or Las Vegas, Cocteau Twins
3. Rebel Girl, Bikini Kill
4. When Doves Cry, Prince
5. Gimme Little Sign, Brenton Wood
6. When Harpo Played His Harp, Modern Lovers
7. Fire Alarm, The Fresh and Onlys
8. Hey, Pixies
9. Daylight Sky, Frankie Rose
10. Vapour Trail, Ride
11. My Prayer, Roy Orbison
12.  My Favorite Things, Tony Bennett

Photos: Lab Partners

Can you give us a little info on your background? I graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 2002. I work as an illustrator and pattern designer in Brooklyn, New York. I do editorial work for newspapers and magazines like The New York Times, The Washington Post, Food & Wine, and Bloomberg Businessweek. I also make patterns and have a range of products like wallpaper, stationery, and fabric and make patterns for companies like Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, and Crate and Barrel. I authored and co-authored The Where, the Why and the How, Farm Anatomy, The Exquisite Book, and Drawn In and am currently working on a book about New York City that will come out next year. I’m also part of a three-person company called ALSO with designer Jenny Volvovski and animator Matt Lamothe.

Tell us about yourself and your work: what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. Lately, I’ve become more interested in working on self-driven projects. Whether it’s a book project or a set of patterns, I like doing work that generated from my own ideas because it gives me complete freedom to do what I want. I’m currently trying to experiment with new mediums, too. I’ve always drawn with a tight pen line so lately I’ve been switching to a thicker brush and trying to loosen my work up a bit. I’d really like to push the handmade quality of my drawings and use the computer as little as possible.

Describe your studio space. What’s the aesthetic? What do you like or dislike about it? How is it different from your home office? The studio is great because it’s completely different from my home office. At home, I have a tiny room that’s basically closet-size and it’s always a complete mess. Sometimes you can’t see the floor because there are papers and drawings everywhere. I decided to have this second space because I wanted a cleaner place that I could go to to work on bigger projects, away from my computer. I bring my laptop to the studio, but mostly I come here to paint and draw. It’s about a 35-minute walk from my apartment in our Park Slope neighborhood to the studio in the area of Crown Heights. I like that it gives me an excuse to walk a little bit, especially now that the weather is getting so nice.

The space has really high ceilings and great light. There are two enormous windows and they look out over subway tracks. The train runs right outside the window every 20 minutes, only a few feet away. The first few times it happened I gasped because it comes so close.

Before Caroline and I moved in here, her boyfriend, designer Joel Speasmaker, shared it with Meredith and another designer. Joel left some of his stuff behind for us to use which includes shelves, flat files, and a giant ladder that they found. He has great taste, so we’re lucky that he’s lending his furniture to us.

The floor above us has another studio of our friends, illustrators/designers Josh Cochran, Mike Perry, and Jim Datz. It’s great to have them close by to visit or get coffee with.

Tell us about your studio mates. What are the advantages of sharing the space with Caroline and Meredith? What’s a typical day like? Do you influence or inspire each other? Caroline Hwang is an amazing illustrator and artist and Meredith Jenks is a super talented photographer. But honestly, we don’t see each other that much. We have such different schedules that it is pretty rare that all three of us are working here at the same time. The day we took these pictures was an exception.

Caroline is here nights and I get to see what she’s been doing when I get in the next day. Lately she’s been indigo-dying fabric which looks like a crazy science experiment. There are tubs filled with colored liquids lining one side of the studio. Her results are stunning, rich blue fabric pieces and color-saturated clumps of yarn hanging around the studio drying. She’s preparing for a big show coming up at Beginnings, a gallery she, Joel, and some other friends run in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Sometimes she’s working on illustrations in studio and she uses embroidery in most of her work. Her desk is full of string of every color and there’s bin under her desk full of hundreds of fabric pieces. I’m always peeking at her desk to see what she’s been up to, whether it’s a drawing for a New York Times article or a little zine she’s put together.

Meredith keeps absolutely tidy and it’s rare that I can tell what she’s been working on since it goes straight from her camera to the computer. The other day, though, I found a stack of gorgeous test proofs from a shoot in our recycling bin and had a hard time throwing them out. She’s able to really capture stories in her photos and they all have such beautiful bright palettes. One of my favorite photos of hers, that she hung behind her desk, is a photo of an abandoned ice cream cone that had fallen to the pavement. Caroline asked her if she set the whole thing up because it seemed to be such a perfectly captured moment, but Meredith said she just found it that way. It takes a really good eye to notice that something like that would make such a striking picture. Currently she’s traveling for a big editorial photo shoot of some famous chefs.

You have a few vintage Eames molded plywood dining chairs in the studio. Which chair is it, and why did you choose it? What do you like about it? In the middle of the studio, we have a little common area that has a table and a couple Eames molded plywood chairs. These we also got from Joel and were all in place when I arrived at the studio. I asked Joel where he got them and he told me he found them at a small furniture store in Richmond, Virginia, many years ago. I always eat my lunch at the middle table; they’re pretty comfortable.

Photo: Meredith Jenks

1. “Cut and Paste: Paper Became a Passion for Designer Irving Harper” from Interior Design magazine.

2. Hipstamatic’s office, as reimagined by design firm Envelope A+D, at California Home + Design.

3. The Los Angeles Times’ coverage of Toyo Ito, winner of this year’s Pritzker Prize, the most prestigious award in architecture.

4. Japanese architect Shigeru Ban’s temporary pavilion made from cardboard tubes at the IE School of Architecture and Design in Madrid (via Dezeen).

5. 10 inspiring quotes from the Eames family at Dwell.

6. News from PSFK that Amsterdam’s DUS Public Architecture is set to develop and create a house using a giant 3D printer.

7. The New York Times‘ feature on the 14-year renovation of the home of Scott Omelianuk, editor of This Old House.

8. “Don’t Write off the Poster,” Eye Magazine‘s look at the collaboration between the UK’s V&A Museum and the Royal College of Art seeking to prove that the poster has not been killed off by digital media.

9. “Steve Jobs: Architect” at Design Observer.

10. The opening of artist Christo’s “Big Air Package” in Germany, reported to be the most expansive indoor sculpture ever created (via designboom).

Featured in photo: Eames Molded Plywood Chair, SAYL Chair, Nelson Platform Bench

What do you listen to while you work?
NPR or Joao Gilberto. Never get bored of his music no matter how much I listen to it.

How do you listen?
I stream music from my laptop to wireless speakers in my home/office.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
iTunes is my go-to source to purchase music.

Does music influence your work?
Absolutely, it can very inspiring! I stumbled upon this phenom violinist named Amadeus Leopold (formerly Hahn Binh) one day and I was so blown away by his talent. I was feeling lazy that day, but it ended up to be a productive day creatively just by listening (and watching) him play.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
I love old classics like Gilberto and Ella so I tend to stick with what I have and cycle through them. Once in a while I will search for contemporary artists that I like (like Pink Martini, Diana Krall and Madeleine Peyroux) and see if they’ve come up with a new album. It’s not a person, but a place… Paris. I fell in love listening to Ella when I was studying there. (Am I sounding like a cliche?)

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
Hands down Pink Martini (for their sheer eclecticism and style) and Amadeus Leopold (for making me want to take the risk and be bold in what I do).

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
The Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair in Red Aniline Stained Birch Veneer. It’s bold yet subtle, refined, and comfortable to sit in. Just the way I like my music.

Max’s Playlist:
1. Summer Wind, Madeleine Peyroux
2. A Correnteza, Lisa Ono
3. Just in Time, Nina Simone
4. Desafinado, Joao Gilberto
5. The Stars of Track and Field, Belle & Sebastian
6. Amado Mio, Pink Martini
7. Lullaby of Birdland, Sarah Vaughn
8. Falling Slowly, Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova
9. Body and Soul, Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse
10. Maybe You’ll Be There, Diana Krall

Photos: Max Gunawan

Shared office space in Atwater Village, Los Angeles, CA

A group of like-minded creatives (a photographer, videographers, graphic designers, and a DJ) call this loft studio in LA their work home. With its “mid-century modern meets the desert” style, it features a brightly-hued array of designs by Charles and Ray Eames, such as their Molded Plastic and Molded Plywood Chairs. (Photos: Bethany Nauert)

Curiosity Shoppe, Austin, TX

Distinctively-cool downtown Austin gets a little more curious with the arrival of this collective space, a multimedia outfit housed in a converted warehouse that’s packed with timeless Eames pieces, including a Wire Chair and Wire Base Elliptical Table. (Photos: Chris Perez)

The Design Office, Providence, RI

Independent designers work side by side in this downtown-Providence-based studio, which features a vintage-modern look led by designs like the Aeron Chair and the Eames Hang-It-All. (Photos: Sarah Rainwater)

Original post by Chris Perez. Used in partnership with Apartment Therapy Tech.

Jeff’s work ranges from product and experience design, to designing Evernote’s building and physical workspaces. Previously Jeff founded the SF office for Hamburg-based Factor Design, launching products for Apple, Google and Coca-Cola just to name a few. Take note of Jeff’s diverse work and listening habits in our first Playlist of 2013.

What do you listen to while you work?
I usually need to listen to music that is more ambient so I can keep my thoughts straight and do the writing I need to for my work. My early years were spent listening to groups such as the Austrian duo Kruder and Dorfmeister. I also lived and worked in Berlin during the early 90′s when this kind of music and techno was booming.These early experiences made it easier for me to enjoy a wider range of music today.

How do you listen?
At the office, when I am working on a deadline or if I have uninterrupted work time in the evening, I will wear my basic Apple ear buds so I can still hear the ambient noise around me while signaling to others “I’m busy.” At home, I have multiple Sonos speakers set up throughout the house so my wife and I can listen to music in say, the dining room, and the kids can listen to their music downstairs while they are playing. In addition to being a great wireless system for an old house, the desktop and iOS controllers make the Sonos system perfect for a connected family like ours.

Do you have any favorite music websites/providers?
I have been a happy paid subscriber of Spotify since their launch in 2010. Buying music one song at a time through iTunes is too prohibitive and kills the discovery process for me. The lack of control with other subscription services such as Pandora and Internet radio services are annoying. I really appreciate the flexibility and the control Spotify affords. Plus, the Sonos system integrates seamlessly with Spotify.

Does music influence your work?
I rely on music more to help push me to get work done rather than provide inspiration or open up new avenues of exploration. I have been fortunate to work with and meet some famous rock-and-roll photographers on a few projects, ranging from the launch of the Apple iPod to some charity work we did through my studio, Factor Design. The most notable of those photographers was Jim Marshall, the famous photographer responsible for iconic images such as Johnny Cash flipping the bird, the last shot of the Beatles coming off the stage at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, and thousands more. We did pro bono work for a Multiple Sclerosis organization in San Francisco Jim steadfastly supported up until his death called “MS Friends.” MS Friends held a Rock and Roll photography gala and auction twice a year and we designed the identity and promotions for it. Meeting many of these photographers and hearing stories about touring with bands like Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, the Doors, and others illuminated decades of musical history for me and make the images that much more vivid to me.

Where do you find music recommendations? Who influences your musical taste?
Now that there are third-party apps that are integrated within Spotify, I like to use many of those to help find new artists and broaden my horizons. I frequently listen to the We Are Hunted app which features emerging artists.

What song or artist best represents the work you create?
On a purely aspirational level, someone like Peter Gabriel. I grew up with his music and the stories they presented. As an artist, he has clearly been on a life-long quest to listen, learn and recast himself based on his experiences and influences at every given stage of his life. You certainly would not call him one-dimensional.

Ideal place to sit and listen to your playlist:
Kicking back in the Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, MCL black leather with oiled walnut. It’s relaxing and comfy and is the perfect place to listen and think — regardless of how comfortable the couch might be.

Jeff’s Playlist:
1. Dirty Little Secret, The Chevin
2. What’s The Matter, Milo Greene
3. Ho Hey, The Lumineers
4. Escape in the Afternoon, French Films
5. It’s Alright, Matt & Kim
6. Daniel, Bat For Lashes
7. Sun, Two Door Cinema Club
8. Demons, Imagine Dragons
9. Love Is Greed, Passion Pit
10. Aeolus, Freelance Whales

Photos: Jeff Zwerner

1. The Real Parque Loft in São Paulo by Brazilian architect and designer Diego Revollo, via Design Milk (as is the photo above).

2. The thinking behind the Eames “x-base” at Eames Designs.

3. The use of color in the GMG House by Pedro Gadanho in Portugal via Yatzer.

4. The guest post on a rooftop apartment in Paris (nice Noguchi Table and Eames Molded Plywood Chair) over at sfgirlbybay.

5. This mid-century modern home in Denver shot by David Lauer (whose home office we recently toured) on Plastolux.

6. The open and airy church-turned-loft in the Netherlands featured on ArchDaily (we like those Magis Bombo Stools tucked into the kitchen area).

7. Could these tree tents at Cool Hunting be an interesting outdoor-office option?

8. The cliff-hanging Casa del Acantilado in Alicante, Spain, at Minimalissimo.

9. This public library concept featured at The Fox Is Black.

10. Thisispaper’s look at the serene Case Inlet Retreat in Puget Sound, WA.

Photo: Via Design Milk

1. Nelson X-Leg Table, designed by George Nelson, 1950 – Clean and elegant, this versatile table moves seamlessly from living and dining rooms, to the office and workspace. Customize the distinctive design with your choice two laminates and three veneers including walnut, white ash, and santos palisander. The surface sits atop legs in trivalent chrome, white, or black. Find all the options at Herman Miller.

2. Nelson Pedestal Stool, designed by George Nelson, 1954 – Originally designed in 1954, the cheerful but sophisticated silhouette of the Pedestal Stool is well suited for the present. With its modest size, it’s the perfect solution for smaller spaces or combine a few to add a vibrant accent of color and utility. Choose yours at Herman Miller.

3. Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair Upholstered, designed by Charles and Ray Eames, 1946 – The gentle, curving shape of the Eames Molded Plywood Chair set the standard for modern furniture design. The addition of an upholstered version increases its contoured comfort and accents with hint of color, creating a stylish, inviting space for living and dining. Choose from several veneer and upholstery options at Herman Miller.

4. H Frame Coffee Table, designed by Ward Bennett, 1963 – With its elegant and minimal form, the H Frame Coffee Table is a showcase of precise proportions and natural materials. Accent executive offices and home interiors with a wide range of stone, wood, and glass surfaces. Configure yours at Herman Miller.

5. Spun Chair, designed by Thomas Heatherwick, 2010 – Sitting upright, the Spun silhouette suggests a spinning sculptural vessel, but on its side this ingenious rotational-molded design spins you around a full 360 degrees. A beguiling, spirited chair, everyone will want to take a turn in. Take a spin at Herman Miller.

Watch Steve Frykholm and other Herman Miller team members take Spun for a spin!

6. Nelson Thin Edge Buffet, designed by George Nelson, 1952 – With its sleek profile and exquisite veneers, the Thin Edge Buffet continues Nelson’s tradition of unified style and utility. Generous storage capacity — in the form of two adjustable shelves and four deep drawers — combined with environmentally sustainable construction make it the perfect solution for living and working today. Find yours at Herman Miller.

1. A must-see: “The Handmade Process Behind Your Eames Chair,” an insightful video taken in our manufacturing facility by Co.Design.

2. The home of Jennifer Bostic, founder of Paper Plane Studio, on sfgirlbybay.

3. Paintings of modern architecture by artist Paul Davies covered over at Plastolux.

4. The “George Nelson Designer Dossier” from Apartment Therapy.

5. The Columbia Dispatch’s interview with Eames Demetrios, grandson of Ray and Charles.

6. PSFK’s “Future of Work” series and its chat with Ryan Anderson, our Director of Future Technologies, about what the ideal office of the future will look like.

7. The beautiful grouping of red Eames Molded Plastic Side Chairs (with both stacking and “Eiffel Tower” wire bases) at Amsterdam’s Stedelijk Museum Restaurant, featured at designboom.

8. Rare color images of Le Corbusier via ArchDaily.

9. 10 Modern Hotels Across the USA from Dwell.

10. October 1 is the start of “Archtober,” Architecture and Design Month in New York City. Get details at archtober.org.

Photo: Magis Folding Air-Chair

Spotlighting Eames-made material never exhibited before (much of it rare), this show at the PM Gallery and House takes a look at the creative process the pair — and architect and a painter — used to meet the needs of each design project they undertook. (“Recognizing the need is the primary condition for design,” Charles once said.) The exhibition runs through November 3. Per the Eames Office, plans are in the works to bring the show to Santa Monica at the end of 2013.

Get details at ealing.gov.uk. For an insightful video overview from the BBC featuring Charles and Ray’s grandson Eames Demetrios and curator Carol Swords, visit bbc.co.uk.

Image: hermanmiller.com/discover

Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the multidisciplinary creative agency Parliament is stocked with pieces by Charles and Ray Eames, including Eames molded plastic side chairs and Eames molded plywood chairs. (Photo: Parliament)

Eames molded plastic side chairs stand at attention in Athens, Greece, at Graphics Garage. (Photo: Graphics Garage)

Designed by Ministry of Design, the Singapore office of Leo Burnett boasts a giant graffiti-style wall portrait of founder Leo Burnett himself. (Photo: Ministry of Design)

Eames molded plywood chairs and coffee tables play nicely with the Aeron office chairs in the studio space of Big Giant, also in Portland. (Photo: The Beege blog)

The airy Boulder, Colorado, office of Crispin Porter + Bogusky features bike-friendly parking. (Photo: This Ain’t No Disco)

A pair of Eames molded plywood chairs welcome guests to the Sydney, Australia, branch of legendary advertising agency Ogilvy. (Photo: Australia Design Review)

A mix of Eames Aluminum Group Management Chairs, Ronald McDonald heads, horse-shaped lighting, foot sculptures, and ball pits make Chandelier Creative one of New York City’s most remarkable workspaces. (Photos: NOTCOT)

1. The foldaway features in a small apartment found on home-designing.com (check out the drop-away desk/Eames molded plywood lounge chair combo).

2. “6 Brilliant Studios Perfect For The Eco Artist” from Inhabitat.

3. Inthralld’s post on shipping pallets being used in office spaces (above).

4. A few workspaces that inspire over at Decor8.

5. Mesmerized by this digital map upgrade from San Francisco-based tech and design studio Stamen (via veryshortlist.com).

6. Did you enter your workspace for a chance to win on Design Milk?

7. If you’re still looking for spring break ideas, take a gander at these three cool cabins you can rent at Yosemite (via If It’s Hip, It’s Here).

8. “Woody Allen, Creative Management Genius” at Design Observer.

1. QLOCKTWO TOUCH, $599.00 A matrix of characters spell out the time using LED technology in this conversation-starting table alarm clock. Get it: Biegert & Funk

2. Letter Holder Bookend, $45.00 Clear clutter from your workspace with this smart two-in-one solution. Get it: mollaspace.com

3. Tape Dispenser, $8.00 Add a small pop of color and clean lines to your desk with this charming design. Get it: Poppin

4. Truncheon Task Light Designer Cmmnwlth’s simple lamp is fashioned out of traditional materials and shaped by advanced digital technology. (Contact vendor for pricing.) Get it: Matter

5. Eames Molded Plywood Lounge Chair with Wood Base, $909.00 The gently curved shapes of these iconic chairs paired with a red aniline stained veneer finish are a firecracker combo. Get it: Herman Miller

Images linked to their sources within the numbered text