Tell us about yourself and your work: what you’re passionate about, what inspires you, and where you’re going. I am a graphic designer and a very passionate collector of all things modernism, mostly from the mid-twentieth century. I collect vintage furniture, pottery, toys, ephemera, records, books, packaging, etc.

Living in California has had a direct impact on what I do and what I like. The modern homes, the furniture, and all the history of designers in the area made it a very obvious choice for me. I am very inspired by my collection as well as by folk art, color, and, in general, the warmth of modernism from that era. I like to surround myself with things that inspire me, from the things I sit on to the things I look at.

My work is a direct reflection of the things around me. I have a dresser in my office that is filled with vintage ephemera that I’ve picked up over the years and I like to open drawers and just look at things every now and then. I also have two shelves with vintage packaging and an ever-growing library of vintage books.

Tell us about your space. What’s your aesthetic? What do you like or dislike? My space is an ever-changing showroom in a way. I am constantly looking for things and replace others when I find something that suits the area better. This forced me to start selling the things I don’t need anymore and it’s now growing into a store of vintage things.

You have a few vintage pieces by Charles and Ray Eames in your space. Why did you choose them? I have many of the vintage molded fiberglass chairs in different colors, some upholstered. They are just so fun and I use them all the time. I also have two molded plywood DCM chairs that I believe are some of the most beautiful, simple, and comfortable chairs I’ve ever sat on. Definitely recommended.

I picked them up because, well, Ray and Charles are probably one of the most influential designers in the U.S. — and on me personally. I just had to have them in my home.

Photos: Javier García

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

Last spring, while the original contents of Charles and Ray Eameses’ living room were on display at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Herman Miller Collection team had the rare opportunity to hold a photo shoot in the husband-and-wife team’s landmark home. The capper? They were also invited to explore Ray’s extensive, well-curated personal collection of objects to use as props. In celebration of Ray’s upcoming 100th birthday, we asked Jennie Maneri, Art Director, Collection and Retail, to walk us through a few of the shots and explain how the details Ray was know for helped bring the Collection to life.

“We knew going into the project that many of the photos would draw from Charles and Ray’s own photos — not shot for shot, but as inspiration. This image [above] is a re-imagining of a picture they’d taken [below] using all the same furniture pieces in the same location, except their lounge and ottoman had black leather and the old Rosewood shell. We wanted to do the updated version in white ash and pearl MCL leather. We included one of Ray’s baskets and her jade plant, which we brought in from the outside. This photo really moved me, as I felt that it was the shot that shows what the Collection is all about: a lived-in quality, a feeling of warmth, beautiful architecture, timeless design.” Pictured above: Eames Lounge and Ottoman, White Ash and Eames Sofa Compact

“We, of course, wanted to shoot the Ray-inspired Select Eames LTR in the home. The bowls on the tables are hers, as is the unique cat sculpture sitting on top of the grouped tables.” Pictured above: Select Eames Wire Base Low Tables and Eames Molded Plywood Chairs

“The inspiration for this shot was ‘Ray getting ready for a party.’ We used her china, her champagne glasses, and some amazing gold flatware. We even went into her garden and picked Aster flowers for her bud jar.” Pictured above: Eames Table and Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chairs

“We shot this photo in the Eames Studio, which is adjacent to the house. The whale sculpture was hers. According to old photos, it was once hanging in the house. It had also been in the original Herman Miller showroom in Los Angeles, which Ray and Charles had designed and styled. We found Ray’s rug folded into a tiny cube within a big stack of textiles. We didn’t even know it was a rug until we opened it up. There were a lot of wonderful surprises like that throughout the day of the shoot.” Pictured above: Eames Molded Plastic Armchair and Eames Storage Unit

“This shot is not in the Collection catalog, but everything here is Ray’s: the plants, the decorative sculptures, the saucers (which were almost like little dessert bowls on pedestals). And then there are pieces from her collections of bowls and salt-and-pepper shakers. . . . There was so much to choose from. Ray didn’t just have one salt bowl; she’d have 40 salt bowls, all different. She’d have 50 different candlesticks and all kinds of plates and bowls. There were cabinets of vases. Drawers of linens. We saw artifacts from different cultures — earthenware, African baskets. But they’d all still be a curated collection. And we found inspiration in the way she could could take very-different objects — a sea pod, a bowl, fresh flowers — and turn that combination into sculpture. Ray made sure her toolbox was abundant, but how she put it together — that’s where the art came from.” Pictured above: Eames Table Outdoor and Eames Molded Plastic Side Chairs

See more of the Collection at hermanmiller.com/collection.

Photos: Francois Dischinger for Herman Miller

In above photo: Eames Table with Round Top and Segmented Base and Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chairs with Metal Bases, all 15% off through December 10 in the Herman Miller Store.

1. Baguette Table, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec - With its lithe, seemingly delicate form, the Baguette is deceptively robust, elegantly supporting your holiday dining or buffet. Inspired by the original definition of baguette – “wand” — the table’s long, slender surface sits atop cast aluminum legs with a polished or painted white or black finish. Choose from white MDF, clear or white glass, slate or quartzite table surfaces. Find your combination at Herman Miller.

2. Harry and David Royal Riviera Pears - As the foundation of the sumptuous Harry and David gift array, the Royal Riviera Pears are in a class by themselves. Sweet and succulent with a luxurious texture, the pears have become a popular holiday tradition and make the perfect addition to your table. Check out the numerous gift options, including this set, at Harry and David.

3. Tuleo Cupcake Stand, Alan Wisniewski - If you’re having visions of sugarplums (or cookies and cupcakes for that matter), bring them to your holiday table with this simple and elegant cupcake stand from Umbra. The chrome-finished, multi-tiered design will manage every manner of handheld confection – even a Riviera Pear tart – in style. Get yours at Digs.

4. Marimekko Lumimarja White + Silver Table Runner, Erja Hirvi - Evoke the holidays’ lustrous, wintery sheen with Hirvi’s iconic pattern, done in snowy white and silver. All cotton and machine washable, too. Dress your holiday table at FinnStyle.

5. Eames Molded Plywood Dining Chair with Metal Base - Charles and Ray Eames’ inimitable chair design, first debuted with Herman Miller in 1946, is a timeless tableside classic. Configured at the perfect height for dining, it’s now available with and without upholstery. Get yours for 15% off now through December 10 at Herman Miller.

6. Stelton Cylinda Tea + Coffee Service, Arne Jacobsen - Warm your guests and your table setting with this award-winning coffee and tea service design by Arne Jacobsen. Clad in stainless steel, the complete set includes tray, coffee and tea pots, and a sugar bowl and creamer. Complete your set at YLiving.

Photos linked within the text.

Tell us about your background. As a kid I grew up drawing logos, cartoons, and Nintendo game characters with my older brother, Brad. I was always more attracted to simple graphics. Along with drawing I was always taking something apart and trying to rebuild it or re-purpose scrap components for something else. Every day I was making some type of Rube Goldberg machine or drawing in my sketch pad (an 18″ x 24″ spiral bound).

I got my BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, MD. I moved back to Cincinnati after graduating and got married to my wife Jennifer. We considered moving somewhere else, but made the choice to stay and invest in the city and continue to grow the amazing friendships we had here.

Most of my inspiration comes from word puns, strange human interactions, and the overlap between Art and Design. Some of my favorite artists include Henri Matisse, Charley Harper, Saul Steinberg, M.C. Escher, Paul Rand, René Magritte, and Josef Albers.

I have always wanted to build our own house. I love the concept of the Eames House, Case Study House #8, and the environment it created for their work.

Tell us about your space. Any special considerations that influenced its set up? The studio is the top floor of our house.  I used to have my studio downtown, but after we moved we compressed our residence onto just the first floor to allow for a studio to be combined. The setup is great because I have all my workspaces on one floor.  There is a main studio where I make most of my work, a workshop with all my tools and materials, a music room, a kitchen, and a bathroom. The space is very efficient. I can walk downstairs at any time to see my family, eat a snack, hang out, and head back upstairs to work. The idea of the home studio is extremely appealing and I would love to have it also function as a guest house for friends and other artists.

You have a few pieces by Charles and Ray Eames in your office. Why did you choose them? They are just as nice to look at as they are to sit in. Every line is so simple and beautiful. They are easily the best chairs we own.

Photos: Andrew Neyer