What makes a design icon? We pay tribute to the Eames Lounge & Ottoman, in celebration of its 60th anniversary.
When the Eames Lounge and Ottoman was introduced to the world in 1956, there was nothing else quite like it. 60 years later, it is an unsurpassed design icon, displayed in museums and enjoyed in the comfort of many homes. The design was the result of Charles and Ray Eames’ investigations into moulding plywood, and a desire to improve a familiar fixture in many living rooms – the lounge chair.
In continuous production since its release date, the Lounge and Ottoman are universally recognisable, and widely admired as one of the most significant designs of the 20th century. However, Charles and Ray’s original scheme for the chair was far more simple. They set out to create, “a special refuge from the strains of modern living.” Such a concept still resonates with designers, manufacturers and consumers to this day, and is probably just part of the reason for the lounge’s positioning in design history.
Born out of the legendary Office of Charles and Ray Eames, the Lounge and Ottoman was one of the first moulded plywood chairs – the product of a brand new process of super-heating the wood and then bending it into impossibly perfect and smooth curves. The undulating seat and the curved back both contributed to the paradox Eames strove for with nearly all of their furniture; the balance between modern processes and natural forms and inspiration.
Five things you might not know about the Eames Lounge and Ottoman:
The Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman is exclusively available in Australia at Living Edge.
INDESIGN is on instagram
Follow @indesignlive
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
The Sub-Zero and Wolf Kitchen Design Contest is officially open. And the long-running competition offers Australian architects, designers and builders the chance to gain global recognition for the most technically resolved, performance-led kitchen projects.
Schneider Electric’s new range are making bulky outlets a thing of the past with the new UNICA X collection.
It’s widely accepted that nature – the original, most accomplished design blueprint – cannot be improved upon. But the exclusive Crypton Leather range proves that it can undoubtedly be enhanced, augmented and extended, signalling a new era of limitless organic materiality.
How can design empower the individual in a workplace transforming from a place to an activity? Here, Design Director Joel Sampson reveals how prioritising human needs – including agency, privacy, pause and connection – and leveraging responsive spatial solutions like the Herman Miller Bay Work Pod is key to crafting engaging and radically inclusive hybrid environments.
The Australian Design Centre (ADC) is facing a crisis as core funding cuts leave NSW without a government-funded organisation dedicated to craft and design practice.
Take a whirlwind tour of some of the standout appearances at 3daysofdesign 2025.
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
A major new permanent public artwork by Dharawal and Yuin artist Alison Page has been commissioned by Lendlease.
While the alluring myth of a lone genius can be particularly appealing, Knoll’s enduring legacy was built on a more profound reality: that a singular vision is only augmented through dialogue, proving that collaboration is one of the most transformative tools in design.