CitySpace confirms international speakers for 'Workplace Freedom' seminars

Vitra, Charles and Ray Eames, and Eames Demetrios, together with leading international specialists on workplace-related developments and innovations will be sharing their knowledge and expertise with registered participants.

According to Jon Steiner, Executive Director of CitySpace, "The seminars are now firmly established as an integral part of the exhibtion. The keynote address by Eames Demetrios reflects the level it has reached as history will remember Charles and Ray Eames as one of the 20th century's most fruitful collaborations that led to a series of groundbreaking films, buildings, and exhibitions."

In addition to their prolific output in furniture which today is seen as one of the greatest contributions to 20th century design, Vitra is not only involved in producing, but also in preserving and researching the Eames's work.

The Vitra Design Museum owns the most important collection of Eames vintage pieces and prototypes. Together with the Library of Congress, the Vitra Design Museum organized a major exhibition called "The work of Charles and Ray Eames". After a seven year European and US tour the exhibition was recently shown at the Triennale di Milano and is now touring Japan. In 2005, Vitra and Herman Miller became the founding sponsors of the Eames Foundation which is dedicated to preserving the Eames House for future generations.

The goal of both Vitra and the Eames family is to spread the design message of Charles and Ray Eames and to give the customer the design experience Charles and Ray intended. The most obvious part of this project is to make all their important design contributions available, not just the commercially relevant ones. Next to the most successful models like the Aluminium Chair and Soft Pad Group, the Eames Plastic Chairs or the 1956 Lounge Chair, Vitra's Eames catalogue contains a wide range of other designs, such as the 1945/46 Plywood Group, the 1949 Eames Storage Units, the 1951 Wire Chair Group, the 1953 Hang it all and the 1960 Lobby Chair and Stools.

Topics covered in the upcoming seminars include the work and philosophy of Charles and Ray Eames, how to create office space for innovation, how global warming could impact the way we work, corporate social responsibility, the tactile office, ergonomics, flexibility to change using the benefits of cable management flooring solutions, the impact of technology on human efficiency and intelligent storage solutions.

Other speakers confirmed include specialists from Camira, InterfaceFLOR, Herman Miller, Ahrend, Steelcase, CitySpace, Wilkhahn, Creative Management and Sedus. The seminars are free of charge to trade professionals visiting the exhibition and will cover a comprehensive range of topics during the exhibition from 2pm through to 6pm.