Past as Prologue
The Last Decade of Furniture Design by Ray and Charles Eames (1968–1978)
Over the course of their decades-long personal and professional partnership, Ray and Charles Eames engaged in a tireless pursuit of problem-solving design that led to some of the most groundbreaking and iconic creations of the 20th century.
Past as Prologue: The Last Decade of Furniture Design by Ray and Charles Eames (1968–1978) offers a rare look at a pivotal decade of their work. The exhibition showcases a selection of key furniture designs from the Eameses’ final years of collaboration, capturing how they refined earlier ideas to meet the evolving needs of modern workplaces.
Fittingly, the exhibition is presented in the Transamerica Pyramid—a paragon of modern architecture and corporate design—mirroring the Eameses’ own influence on 20th-century office culture. Our partnership with SHVO at the remastered Transamerica Pyramid Center represents a bold convergence of design, culture, and commerce, reimagining a landmark through curated experiences that celebrate San Francisco’s creative spirit.
Exterior view of the Transamerica Pyramid Annex Gallery, seen from the adjacent Redwood Park at the base of the Transamerica Pyramid.
Interior view of exhibition gallery space.
By the late 1960s, Ray and Charles Eames had become towering figures in American design. From their Los Angeles–based office they led an extraordinary range of creative endeavors—producing films, exhibitions, World’s Fair Pavilions, and major research projects for global corporations, government agencies, and leading cultural institutions, Yet, furniture design remained central to their mission.
As longtime partners such as Herman Miller and Vitra shifted focus to the commercial office market, the Eameses responded by reimagining earlier designs—exploring posture, scale, and durability—while embracing advances in materials, manufacturing, and technology. The furniture developed during this period reflects an enduring commitment to improving daily life through design. As Charles once said, the goal was always “making designs better—more useful, more comfortable, and more lasting.”
Discover more in our corresponding online exhibition The Last Decade of Eames Furniture.
“Only innovate as a last resort,” a guiding philosophy of Charles Eames, reflects the Eameses’ belief that innovation should serve function—and not be pursued for its own sake.
Charles Eames’s response when asked if his chair design came to him in a flash, centered above a display of ephemera from the Eames Archives.
Artifacts from the Eames Archives, including a photograph of Ray Eames with Charles’s daughter, Lucia, and cards from the House of Cards deck.
The innovative base of the DSS chair allowed fourteen chairs to stack in the floor space of one when not in use—a gamechanger for schools and auditoriums.
A yellow EC127 and purple DSG chair are just two of the many Eames furniture designs on display.
Furniture display inspired by 1964 Herman Miller catalog art-directed by Tomoko Miho.
William Pereira’s iconic Transamerica Pyramid in the heart of San Francisco’s downtown.
The Transamerica Pyramid illuminated in celebration of opening night of Past as Prologue.
Book a Guided Tour
Guided tours with Llisa Demetrios, chief curator of the Eames Institute and granddaughter of Ray and Charles Eames, are available for groups of up to 15 people. Tours last 45 minutes and offer a rare opportunity to hear personal stories and insights. The cost is $750. To schedule a tour, please email us at visit@eamesinstitute.org.
Schedule a tour
