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Alexander Girard (1907-1993), Timeless Designs Revived
| August 10, 2008
Link: Book: Alexander Girard Designs for Herman Miller
| August 10, 2008
Earlier this year I saw the colorful Alexander Girard Alphabet Blocks created by House Industries (a beautiful collaboration between them and the Alexander Girard estate).
Truthfully, I had no idea who Alexander Girard was...
Then today while flipping through the summer catalog for FLOR, I came across their new La Fonda Del Sol line of interchangeable floor tiles, based on Girard’s extensive design work for the restaurant of the same name (which was in the Time-Life Building from 1961-1971).*
“Like all great designers, Alexander Girard never forgot that his work must be ultimately practical - he just made sure to imbue his designs with a whole lot of sophisticated yet fun boldness. We humbly aim for the same at FLOR. Our La Fonda del Sol™ area rug collection captures the whimsy and vibrancy of Alexander Girard's folk art designs while remaining infinitely flexible and practical FLOR.” —FLOR
(above photos of rugs from Flor. The following La Fonda Del Sol sets are shown above, in the order they appear: Azul, Mandarina, Verde, and Pequeno)
Maximo is another company that has been creating products based on Girard’s designs, including bags, tables and pillows.
Here are some fun Alexander Girard wooden doll figurines manufactured by Vitra.
The SFMOMA had an exhibition on Alexander Girard last year.
Even Todd Oldham has a short video essay on the versatile designer (below):
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*coincidentally a modern version of the restaurant La Fonda Del Sol is scheduled to open in the MetLife building in NY sometime this fall. The designated designer for the project is Adam Tihany. In response to the original restaurant’s aesthetics established by Girard, Tihany says “It was very sophisticated for its time, but what worked then, doesn’t work now. Tastes have changed. Golden suns? So don’t expect an homage to Girard in Tihany’s scheme for the street-side bar-lounge and raised dining room. “But if you know, you might see a trail. The pattern of the terrazzo floor hints of the tile he used on the counters. And that pink appears in the upholstery pattern.” (quote pulled from the Insatiable Critic)
Link: Book: Alexander Girard Designs for Herman Miller
Tags: legend, textile design
Topic: Graphic Design
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