Alexander Girard (1907–1993) was one of the most influential textile artists and interior designers of the twentieth century. Raised and educated in Italy and the UK, and trained as an architect, Girard became the director of fabric and textiles at Herman Miller, a position he held from 1952 to 1975. There he collaborated with Charles and Ray Eames, and with George Nelson, on groundbreaking designs for the corporate world. Known for his distinctive geometric patterns as well as folk art-inspired imagery from his own collection, Girard can be called the inventor of a discipline that became known as surface design.

Over the course of his career, Girard designed interiors, murals and decorative treatments for General Motors, John Deere, and Hallmark, to name a few. Notable projects include the design of New York’s legendary Fonda del Sol restaurant, in 1960, the rebranding of Braniff Airlines, in 1965 and the design of a wing for the Santa Fe Folk Art Museum to house the Girard Foundation Collection.

More than 300 works from the collection, largely housed at the Vitra Design Museum, just outside of Basel, are on view in the exhibition Alexander Girard: A Designer’s Universe, continuing through January 2017. Info 

A 550-page catalogue is forthcoming, through Artbook. Info Photo, top: Alexander Girard in his studio in the early 1950s (photo by Charles Eames, courtesy of Vitra Design Museum, Alexander Girard Estate). Photo left: installation view.