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The World of Eames comes to the Barbican

Celebrating Charles and Ray Eames Within his handwritten notes for a speech he gave at U.C.L.A. in 1949, Charles Eames scribbled down ‘design is a full time job’, a philosophy which will clearly be defined for all who visit a new exhibition – The World of Charles and Ray Eames - which opens at the Barbican Centre tomorrow.

Charles and Ray Eames with DCM chair frames Charles and Ray Eames with DCM chair frames

The behemoth of a design office that this husband-and-wife duo put together in mid-twentieth century California worked across such varied fields as furniture, product and graphic design, film, photography and architecture, and everything from personal letters, original drawings and artwork to furniture prototypes will be on display throughout the gallery until February 2016.

Here are just a few of their instantly recognisable, iconic designs:

Eames Lounge Chair Ottoman The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman

Eames RAR and DSR chairs Eames Plastic Chairs - the 'RAR' (left) and the 'DSR' (right)

Eames Soft Pad and Aluminium Group The Soft Pad EA219 chair (left) and the Aluminium Group EA116 chair (right)

Eames Plywood Group LCM LCW The Plywood Group LCM chair (left) and LCW chair (right)

Hang It All and Eames Elephant The Hang It All (left) and the Eames Elephant (right)

Anyone with a keen interest in the hugely influential Eames legacy of designs needs to visit the Barbican this winter to discover that they were about so much more than just moulded plywood and plastic. The exhibition runs from 21 October 2015 to 14 February 2016 - click here for more information.

MYLES BROWN