Plaque from 1964 New York World’s Fair

Renowned graphic designer Paul Rand held Ray and Charles Eames in very high esteem, as the greatest American designers of all time. But Rand was puzzled by their preference for historic typefaces, saying, “Peculiar about graphic design though. Victorian stuff and gimcracks and doodads.”

This sign for the New York World’s Fair pavilion reflects the Eames approach to graphics. They chose typefaces to evoke the playful spirit of amusement parks and circuses, and to make learning, in this case, about how computers work, more fun.

Gift of Bill Miner. Part of a group gift including Artifact # G.2026.9.1-.2.