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A Home for Curious Problem Solvers

Building on the legacy of Ray and Charles Eames, we aim to inspire creative problem-solving that positively shapes our world.

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 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.

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.

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.

Emily CM Anderson

Senior Creative Director

Ask me about: Boston terriers, homemade pasta, Venetian glassware, and kerning

Emily Bahret

Communications & Creative Operations Manager

Ask me about: sporks, soups, true crime documentaries, and what I’m currently crocheting

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 80s

Michelle D’Agrosa Dakin

Chief People Officer

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

Sydnor Elkins

Senior Director of Design & Construction

Ask me about: the built environment (in particular NC modern architecture and sustainable building), model making, picture books, and Marin day trips

David Evershed

Farm Manager

Ask me about: all things farming and gardening, Southern Utah and desert ecology, interesting rocks I have found, mantis shrimp, and why I love poison oak!

Joanna Gold

Digital Assets Coordinator

Ask me about: earthquakes, embroidery, X-Files, permaculture, and hiking in the Bay Area

Kaylah Greenwell

HR Coordinator

Ask me about: R&B music, anime, sports, and the newest make-up trends

Erik Heywood

Senior Director of Retail

Ask me about: British poetry, Danish design, American art, French cinema, and Mexican drive-thrus

Angelika Ingham

Senior Bookstore Manager

Ask me about: mid-century American poetry, the language of flowers, and folk ballads

Joni Joseph

Senior Collections Manager and Registrar

Ask me about: museums, IPM, and quilting

Lulu

Llama in Residence

Ask me about: where the grass is greenest, heterochromia, the few times I’ve made a run for it

Sara McBeen

Senior Experience Operations Manager

Ask me about: vintage office supplies, The Fixers' Collective, my kids, and my Petaluma joke

Abby McBeth

Social Media & Community Manager

Ask me about: leisure as a basis for culture, crabbing, Harry Potter, baking, and New Zealand

lauren c. molina

Digital Collections Manager

Ask me about: extraterrestrials, the Sonoran desert, intertidal zones, driving to/from LAX

Ellie Ohara

Collections Specialist

Ask me about: conservation of artwork and preservation of cultural heritage, community acupuncture, and my dog Friday

Daniel Ostroff

Head of Acquisitions & Research

Ask me about: movies, museums, Asian art, unself-conscious design, and tacos

Kyla Searle

Senior Director of Operations

Ask me about: dramaturgy, documentary filmmaking, California history, and raising a puppy

Austin Smith

Assistant Bookstore Manager

Ask me about: my favorite books this season, the best places in California to do karaoke, and Nicolas Cage's best movies by decade

Lauren Smith

Chief Experience Officer

Ask me about: live storytelling, event planning, bread baking, playing banjo, and crafting with kids

Ann Spradlin

Editorial Director

Ask me about: sidewalk gardening, the serial comma, Little Free Libraries, and the least use of freeways

Emily Vigor

Senior Director of Collections

Ask me about: the archives, Northern California design, baking, and stained glass projects

Lizzie Wallack

Senior Director of Planning & Community Investment

Ask me about: architecture, Petaluma, what I am currently thrifting, and using my domestic space as a testing ground

William Wells

Facilities Director

Ask me about: fostering and adopting, Christo's Running Fence, telephone tables and secretary desks, and my first visit to the Eames Ranch

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.