A Home for Curious Problem Solvers
We aim to equip everyone with the lessons of Ray and Charles Eames, so that anyone can use design to solve problems.
Cultivate Curiosity
When Ray and Charles Eames were asked “What are the boundaries of design?” they responded by turning the question on its head: “What are the boundaries of problems?” It is in this spirit that we welcome you to the Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, where the lessons Ray and Charles left us through their body of work, and more importantly, how they approached that work, are brought to life for a new generation willing to explore the “boundaries of problems.”
Containing thousands of artifacts the Eames Collection is a one-of-a-kind record of the Eameses’ extraordinary partnership that encapsulates their unique methodologies and diverse interests. It offers countless examples of Ray and Charles's process, and illustrates the lessons we can take from their approach to design. The Eames Institute is responsible for stewarding this remarkable body of work, while also making it accessible to other institutions and the public at large.
As we bring the Eameses’ lessons to life through our programming and properties like the Ranch, we invite you to join our community of curious problem-solvers and make design a critical tool in your world.
The Eames Institute acknowledges the property currently identified as the Eames Ranch to be a part of the traditional territory of the Meleya and Amayelle tribes of the Coast Miwok people. We honor the Coast Miwok—past, present, and future—as the original stewards of this special place, and appreciate the enduring legacy, connections, and relationships they have to their ancestral homeland. We recognize that after thousands of years of peaceful habitation, these lands were unjustly and forcibly stolen and humbly aim to create a safe place that welcomes everyone in an atmosphere of trust and knowledge-sharing.
As a cultural institute with a focus on progressive agricultural practices and the preservation and public display of artifacts that include many items from non-Euro-American cultures, we recognize that our knowledge systems are often biased, incomplete, and exclusionary. We aim to foster a culture of continuous learning that honors ancestries and traditions that are not our own, and builds relationships of mutual respect and understanding.
We recognize that this work is a continual work in progress, and our goal is to make it as inclusive, collaborative, accurate, and deferential as possible. If you have feedback, questions, or comments, we welcome your voice and contribution.
What’s an Institute for Anyway?
John Cary, president and CEO of the Eames Institute, offers a vision of why we do what we do.
Image © Eames Office, LLC
A Legacy Preserved
As great as Ray and Charles were as designers, they were even better grandparents, according to Llisa Demetrios. While we look forward to sharing more Eames family perspectives, here we join Llisa as she takes a personal look back at their memorable interactions and lasting influence—the myriad lessons passed along from Ray and Charles through her mother Lucia Eames that help sustain and advance the Eames legacy today.
Image top left © Eames Office, LLC. Image top right by Eliza Gregory, October, 2003.
A World of Eames
Since 1988, three generations of the Eames family have contributed to the project of upholding and promoting Ray and Charles' vital cultural and commercial legacy. We are honored to work alongside the Eames Office in their effort to communicate, preserve, and extend the Eameses' work, and the Eames Foundation as it preserves and protects Ray and Charles' historic home in Los Angeles, California.
Meet Our Team
Get to know our team of dreamers and builders who believe design has the power to change the world for the better.
John Cary
President & CEO
Ask me about: my kids, running, VW Buses, banana seat bikes, EVs, Craigslist hijinks, and the color orange
Kiman Chheng
Controller
Ask me about: accounting, sports, running, and the 80's
Michelle D’Agrosa Dakin
Director of People & Culture
Ask me about: why I think HR needs a rebrand, island life, perfect banana pancakes, and I-O Psychology
Llisa Demetrios
Chief Curator
Ask me about: my grandparents, the Collection, life on the Ranch, and the Petaluma Arts Center
Adam Esposito
Facilities Manager
Ask me about: prototyping in the wood and machine shops, and all things celestial
Kris Barrow Felter
Assistant Collections Manager
Ask me about: pests, caring for objects, relative humidity, acid-free tissue, trees, and history
Benjamin Godfrey
Director of Ranch Operations
Ask me about: teamwork, monarch butterflies, dogs, adventures, and pursuing a Darwin Award
Sam Grawe
Chief Brand & Marketing Officer
Ask me about: storytelling, printed matter, archival research, noodles, and esoteric musical genres
Emily Gu
Executive Assistant to CEO
Ask me about: travel, sustainability, boba, Asian food, creating systems, empathy in design, and pets
Joni Joseph
Collections & Registrar Manager
Ask me about: managing a collection from ground zero, how to move a LCW, bugs, and quilting
James McLean
Chief Financial Officer
Ask me about: P&Ls, net assets, spreadsheet hacks, operational efficiencies, trail running, and Arsenal
Daniel Ostroff
Head of Collections
Ask me about: movies, museums, Asian art, unself-conscious design, and tacos
Phoebe Schenker
Chief Planning Officer
Ask me about: architecture, design literacy, carbon dividends, reuse, and the Anza Borrego desert
Lauren Smith
Director of Programs
Ask me about: live storytelling, event planning, bread baking, playing banjo, and crafting with kids
Emily Vigor
Archives Manager
Ask me about: the archives, Northern California design, baking, and stained glass projects
Petra Warren
Assistant Archives Manager
Ask me about: archival research, camping, reading, traveling, puzzles, and the Czech Republic
Work at the Institute
Are you a curious problem-solver? Do you love to learn continuously? Do you take your play as seriously as you take your work? Are you interested in being part of a team that believes in making a more beautiful and sustainable world? If so, you could be a perfect fit to join us at the Eames Institute.
Help Us Cultivate Curiosity
By donating to the Eames Institute, you’re supporting our organization as we help advance the Eames legacy and connect people to the problem-solving power of design.
