Girard received a degree as an that displayed the high-quality architect from the Architectural design of everyday use items and ALEXANDER Association School of Architecture included the first public presentation in . He started practicing of ’ molded architecture and interior design in plywood chairs. Not so long after Pages from The Republic of Fife. the late 1920s and earned another this successful breakthrough, Girard The first comprehensive design architecture degree at faced another career boost as Herman project of young Girard. Produced between between 1917 and 1924. University, after moving to the Miller’s director of design for its GIRARD . With his recently division. During his time at Girard’s textile designs from Mid 1960s wedded wife, Susan Needham, he Herman Miller, the Michigan-based to early 1970s. opened his first design office in New manufacturer of high-end, modern Banner sewn by Girard for Walker Art Center Exotic and folk art were main York City in 1932 and the second furniture, from 1952 – 1970s, he exhibit,“Nelson Eames Girard Propst, The sources of inspiration for Girard. studio in Detroit in 1937. The showcased his exceptional eye for Design Process at Herman Miller.”1975. GIRARD’S LIFE His personal visual infatuation for skillfully reduced yet recognizable colors through over 300 vibrantly Interior of Textiles & Objects Shop. these bright colors and whimsical forms of his creations and sketches hued fabric and textiles designs as he patterns led him to travel all around showed his profound understanding was not satisfied with the available The least well-known of the great Born in New York City in 1907, the world. He acquired various Art is only of Italian-Renaissance art and Art textiles. Girard himself mentioned, designers at Herman Miller, Girard grew up in Florence, Italy objects from over 27 countries, Deco. In 1949, He faced his first “Textiles are a building material, Alexander Girard was, in fact, one of where he soaked up the surrounding including Mexico, Japan, the career milestone when he was chosen as much a part of a room as are the the most important modern designers artistic atmosphere and cultural American Southwest, Poland, and to design the Detroit Institute of Arts’ conventional building materials of of the 20th century. By designing influences from his antique Czechoslovakia. With the objects he For Modern Living – an exhibition brick, glass, wood, and plaster.” for a variety of projects from match dealing family and beautiful old had collected from the international book covers, postage stamps, and neighborhood. Keen on drawing and travels and his contemporary textile art when it is Textile designs from early 1960s; Fruit Tree Drapery Fabric, Cutout tablecloth, April Drapery Fabric. plane tickets to textiles, interiors, anything related to “communication designs, he launched an avant- and architecture, he left an indelible design”, young Girard filled garde Textiles & Objects store with Girard’s remarkable prominence mark on the design landscape. With notebooks with colorful illustrations Herman Miller in New York City. Old Sun. Environmental as a designer reached its peak in 1960 his deep passion in folk art tradition, for his imaginary nation, “Republic Despite the financial failure of the Enrichment Panel. 1972. with his design for La Fonda del Sol Girard was the greatest colorist and of Fife.” Even at an early age, he store, Girard did not give up the restaurant in New York City’s Time synonymous textile designer. During his career, he demonstrated his powerful and love for his collection. In fact, he & Life Building. After he received also embodied a progressive approach expressive outlook for graphic design and his wife began one of the largest a commision to design every detail to design through his introducing the by creating flags, postage stamps, collections of folk art to date in Santa of this Latin American restaurant, idea of “a changeable logo” that still coins and paper currency, and coat of Fe, New Mexico. Girard blew away the public, and resonates in the modern day. arms for his nation. the Architectural League of New York, with its lively, vivid sun-motif with living The Wooden Dolls. Made out of fir, originally intended for Girard’s personal home in Sante Fe. Inspired by his identity. His progressive approach own extensive collection of folk art. 1963. to design was also shown through AND WORK the modification of Braniff Airlines’ Portrait of Alexander Girard standing in front of his Alexander Girard own . visual identity in the mid1960s. About thousands of modifications later, he rebranded the entirety of Braniff’s persona, from logo to lounge furniture. Girard developed his sophisticated to a modern day cold-hearted sense of color and distinct identity corporate design world. She adds on as a graphic designer through the “If you compare his work to the gods amalgamation of Modernism and of graphic design of that era, it has more vibrant folk art. His attention to idiosyncrasies. It’s a little bit cute. Paul the whole system helped him to Rand was not cute. Girard didn’t even discover an approach to unify all care about rules like winnowing down of the modern design elements and the corporate palette to a maximum charming folk art style together. of three colors. That just didn’t register for him. He did corporate design, Alexandra Lange, a design critic, but it wasn’t corporate! He played notes that Girard’s refined yet folksy a different game.” designs bring a warmth and humanity His colors INFLUENCES are often

La Fonda del Sol Matchbooks. Folk Art Designed by Alexander Girard. 1960. Alexander Girard’s collection of The Wooden Dolls. Made out of fir, folk art encompasses so many of strong, but originally intended for Girard’s the world’s cultures in its reach. personal home in Sante Fe. Inspired by his own extensive collection of His collection of various traditional folk art. 1963. items, from those in terra-cotta Pair of Dolls. Made out of wood Nativity Figures. Wooden figure Figure Group. Ceramic figures from toys and paper mache skeletons to and wool from Peru, South sculptures from the Huana-Andina the Quice culture in Guatemala, painted canvas and carved stone, America. culture in Peru, South America. Central America. influenced his work immesley. Girard The Nativity. Poster designed by Shrine. Wooden sculpture set from Upper Garment. Woven fabric never loud donated over a 100,000 pieces from Alexander Girard. Nelson Gallery of Mexico, North America. garment from the Maya culture in his collection to the Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. 1962. Guatemala, Central America. International Folk Art in Santa Fe, Blouse, Fragment. Cotton piece New Mexico. from the Cuna culture in Panama, Albert Kriemler Central America. the Vitra Design Museum, Kriemler clothing collection, Akris’ Spring / directed the Spring / Summer Summer 2018 collection features 2018 Ready-To-Wear collection of the reproductions of Girard’s iconic the Swiss fashion label to embody wooden dolls and Herman Miller After working together for the Girard’s vibrant and geometric style. prints. To reflect Girard’s “strong, but Detroit Institute of Arts’ For Modern never loud” colors, Kriemler treated Kriemler wished to show the Living exhibition in 1949, Charles his garments almost like canvases and timeless warmth and cheerfulness and Ray Eames introduced their took every single color from Girard’s of Girard’s expression of elegance. friend Girard to Herman Miller. creative canon. WORKS From the runway set to the entire Their positive recommendation Girard’s folkoric wooden doll figures and Akris’ helped Girard to completely take S / S 18 collection featuring his folksih designs. Charles & Ray Eames over Herman Miller’s dull and Textiles & Objects purely functional textile division as Charles and Ray Eames were close a director of design. Textiles & Objects shop was Herman To promote the opening of midtown friends of Alexander Girard and Miller’s first experiential shot in the Manhattan shop, Girard designed his wife Susan. Eames and Girard retail industry in 1961. Born out of various prints from invitations collaborated and influenced each Alexander Girard’s personal passion and signs to products tags. Among others designs throughout the years as in international folk art, the shop the many graphical elements, this they shared an interest in vernacular offered a wide range of hand-selected Textiles & Objects Poster especially architecture and folk art. Their whimsical pieces of folk art, bolts demonstrates Girard’s artistic friendship developed in the mid of contemporary textiles, custom ability to enhance and embellish 1940s when two of them realized occasional furniture, and small advertisements to the level of art. Its Akris’ S/S18 collection they were both designing an almost handcrafted objects that he medium is screenprint on textured and runway set featuring identical plywood radio cabinets. Girard’s folkoric wooden commissioned or designed. white paper. In designing this poster, doll designs. Girard expanded the boundaries The entirely unique setting was of graphic design at the time by able to shed a completely new incorporating folksy details and perspective on the underappreciated numerous typefaces. folk art at the time. These special items facilitated an enchanting and delightful atmosphere that gave the public a chance to step into Girard’s exotic world. Designed by Girard Plywood radio cabinet enclosure himself, the concept was far ahead Albert Kriemler Textiles & Objects Poster. Interior of Textiles & Objects and front panel components. Designed by Alexander Girard for of its time. The bold and restrained Shop. New York City. Designed by Charles Eames at Evan the opening of Textile & Objects colors played against the clean white By incorporating the eclectic cultural Products, Michigan. Section of the dining room in characteristics into graphics and shopin New York City, 1961. of the built interior. Girard did not La Fonda de Sol restaurant. interior design, Girard awakened Room display for “For Modern neglect a single detail; underneath Chairs designed by Charles and Living” exhibition. Curated by Ray Eames. New York City. the public to the value of folk art. the 350 mirrored light bulbs on Alexander Girard, 1949. Detroit the ceiling, colorful fabric panels His work influenced many artists Institute of Arts. Wall of La Fonda de Sol featuring and designers around the world, hung to the floor. By bringing the Girard’s bold typefaces. Collage of room display for “For particularly Albert Kriemler, the collective stories of different cultures Modern Living” exhibition. and people, he simulated a sense of creative director of Akris. Designed by Charles and Ray Eames, 1949. globalization that provided a deeper Inspired by the exhibition “Alexander understanding of humanity. Girard: a Designer’s Universe” at Girard designed every single aspect of La Fonda del Sol- from the furniture, plates, tiles, and wallpaper, to the menu and logo. He reflected his interest in Mexico and Latin America Braniff International Airways through the ground-breaking and authentic space planning, decor, Beginning in 1965, Girard reprised “The End of the Plain Plane” and graphic design scheme his influential achievement once campaign gave Girard the again by rebranding the Texas-based opportunity to work with textiles, He kept a main motif across the airline’s public image. Approximately color, and graphics on a grand scale. Girard said “My concepts for Braniff whole restaurant: the sun. The logo Various objects and graphics designed about 17,543 designs later, Girard His design included seven easily International come from two primary, was incorporated into every design, by Girard for La Fonda del Sol and seemingly contradictory, design restaurant. New York City, 1960: developed a single color-driven recognizable color schemes for the such as the menu and matchbox. principles: First, design in depth, Salt and Pepper Shaker. Ceramic. corporate identity for the Braniff plane exteriors, such as light and dark This consistently colorful and warm International Airways that covered blue, beige, ochre, orange, turquoise, to ensure variety, interest and lasting visual emblem helped to form a Ashtray and Match Holder. Cermaic all of Braniff’s aesthetic elements and lemon yellow. He also created a excitement. Second, strip beautiful strong corporate identity. He also Supper Menu. Offset lithograph. from the plane interiors and lounge new logo in the shape of a dove. shapes of non-essentials, to permit used typeface-covered walls both as Matchbook. Offset lithograph. furnitures to logos, condiment the freest appreciation of the decoration and to convey information Dinner Menu. Offset lithograph. packaging, and playing cards. beautiful form.” about restaurant’s offerings. Waitor’s Poncho. Designed by Alexander Girard and Rudi Gernreich. With his vibrant style, Braniff’s lounges changed into a welcoming Anything can space. Girard not only used Herman Miller’s furnitures, but also created a line of custom furniture that included seemingly simple chairs with a great variety of textiles and be used to pattern combinations.

La Fonda de Sol Braniff International Airway’s rebranded identity designed by The Latin American restaurant, La Girard had an exceptional way of Girard. 1965: Fonda del Sol, was one of Girard’s looking at the visual world. By Corporate Design on the exterior. create beauty most memorable spaces. With his adopting the clutter and chaos, old A Set of Playing Cards. Featuring total design approach, he designed and new, and sophistication and Girard’s illustration and English and selected almost every detail in precision, he turned an architectural phrase, with Spanish and Portuguese translations for the Jet Set crowd. the restaurant. To create the perfect space into a sensational atmosphere. Braniff Dove Logo. identity and atmosphere of the area, He was not afraid to contradict the Girard and the restaurant’s executives widespread modern International if handled well traveled throughout Central and Style design dogmas in the 1960s. South America searching for fresh, As a result, Girard was able to take a decorative ideas. respectful, cosmopolitan approach on the Latin American theme of Departure Lounge. Dallas Love Field, Texas. Alexander Girard La Fonda del Sol. Girard’s “New Gate Look” with Herman Miller Seats. Lounge Chairs with Girard’s Upholstery. Herman Miller. JUWON LEE | NEU 2018

Typeset in Gill Sans and Adobe Garamond Pro Environmental Designed in InDesign Enrichment Panels Printed on 20lb. bond

To bring “aesthetic functionalism” to open plan offices, Girard designed more than 40 panels in 1972. Unlike his printed textiles, these silkscreen-on-canvas prints consisted Environmental Enrichment Panel of single stand-alone images. Ranging Series for Herman Miller, designed from abstract designs to figurative by Girard. 1971–2: pictograms, the lively and bold panels Four Leaf Clover. were intended to add personality Love Heart. and energy to any environment. New Sun. These Enrichment Panels served Installation of fabrics and panels. as “the exclamation point at the Walker Art Center exhibit,“Nelson end of Girard’s long tenure with Eames Girard Propst, The Design Herman Miller.” Process at Herman Miller.” 1975.

WORKS CITED

Black and White. Beaux Arts Magazine: “Alexander Girard, Génie Domestique”, Clair Fayolle nytimes.com/2000/09/15/arts/design-review-a-showman-who-turned-interiors-into-atmospheres.html Diagnols. ForeWord, Academic OneFile: “Alexander Girard”, Meg Nola. passajero.com/en-braniff-girard-combinaci Metropolis Magazine:“The Wit and Wisdom of Alexander Girard”, Paul Makovsky sfmoma.org/artist/Alexander_Girard Girls. The Spirit of Folk Art : the Girard Collection at the Museum of International Folk Art, store.hermanmiller.com/girard-enrichment-panels?lang=en_US Ribbons. Henry H. Glassie and Michel Monteaux. vitra.com/en-us/corporation/designer/details/alexander-girard Daisy Face. vitra.com/en-us/magazine/details/a-childhood-utopia braniffpages.com/1965/1965.html vitra.com/en-us/magazine/details/a-fantastic-universe collection.internationalfolkart.org/search/girard vitra.com/en-us/magazine/details/interview-albert-kriemler curbed.com/2016/3/25/11273174/alexander-girard-exhibit-vitra-design-museum-graphic-design vitra.com/en-us/magazine/details/the-textiles-and-objects-shop hermanmiller.com/designers/girard/ wallpaper.com/fashion/akris-ss18-collection-inspired-by-alexander-girard hermanmiller.com/stories/why-magazine/an-uncommon-vision/ hivemodern.com/pages/product1700/wooden-dolls-alexander-girard-vitra midcenturymodernfinds.com/blog/http/wwwmidcenturymodernfindscom/2017/02/08/alexander-girard