Serge Ivan Chermayeff (1900 – 1996) – Russian designer

World Design Assembly Tokyo 2023 official website is now open
Plan furniture - Serge Chermayeff
Plan furniture – Serge Chermayeff

Serge Ivan Chermayeff (1900 – 1996) was a Russian architect and designer. He was born in Grosny now Azerbaijan, and professionally active in Britain and the United States.

Biography

1920s

In 1910, he moved to London, where he worked on the editorial staff of Amalgamated Press from 1918 to 23.

Worked in Argentina from 1922 to 1924.

From 1924 to 1927, he was the chief designer for the London-based decorating firm E. Williams.

From 1928 to 1931, he was co-director of Waring and Gillow’s ‘Modern Art Studio’ department of French furniture in London. He attempted to reorganise in the image of a great department store of the kind for which Paris had become famous.

In 1928, at Waring’s, he held a landmark exhibition of French and English furniture. He became an architect in 1929 and pioneered in accepting tubular steel furniture in England. 

1930s

Early geometric Art Déco decorations, some painted and silver-leafed, with incised wood or contrasting veneers, were designed by Waring and Gillow in 1930.

Interior and product design in the new style of the late 1920s led him to Modern architecture. An all-metal and mirror bathroom in The Studio Yearbook (1930) with ‘plymax’ dado, ‘plymax’ and rubber base, and polished and lacquered aluminium plumbing fixtures are typical of his interior designs.

In 1932, he founded the furniture retailer Plan. He worked closely with manufacturers Walter Knoll and Franz Schuster, both from Germany, from whom much of Plan’s designs were derived. He sold Plan in 1936. Chermayeff collaborated on lighting with Best and Lloyd on R.D. Best’s Bestlite, producing similar Bestplan lighting. In 1933, he began an architecture practice, with a house in Rugby as his first structure. By 1935, his architectural work included extensive use of his furnishings, including clocks, rugs, textiles, radios, and furniture. 

A Pair of Plan chairs by Serge Chermayeff
A Pair of Plan chairs by Serge Chermayeff. (Bonhams)

He commissioned the 1938 Recumbent Figure sculpture by Henry Moore for his own 1935—38 house overlooking the South Downs, Bentley Wood, near Halland, East Sussex. 

1937— 39, was a member of MARS (Modern Architectural Research Group). In the mid-1930s, he pioneered Modern industrial design in Britain with his bakelite radio housings for Ekco and designed bent-metal tubular furniture for Pel. 

He gave Erich Mendelsohn a base in England when Mendelsohn was forced to leave Germany, resulting in their being partners in an uneasy relationship from 1933— 36, producing some of the most notable buildings. 

Chermeyeff’s use of Samuely’s structural engineering began a period coinciding with the British Modern movement in architecture. 

1937-39, Chermayeff was again independent; moving to the USA in 1939, he first worked as an architect and town planner. 

1940s

'Sitting room designed by Sege Chermayeff', c1941.
‘Sitting room designed by Sege Chermayeff’, c1941. Serge Ivan Chermayeff was a Russian-born British architect, industrial designer and writer. From The Studio Volume 121.

He succeeded Laszlo Moholy-Nagy in 1940 and became head of the design department at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. 

1942— 46, was director of the art department at Brooklyn College, New York. 

1946—51, succeeded Laszlo Moholy-Nagy as president of the Institute of Design, Chicago, which became a department of Armour Institute of Technology (renamed Illinois Institute of Technology). 

1952—62, was professor of architecture at Harvard University, and, 1962—69, professor at Yale University.

1952—57, was a partner of Heywood Cutting, who had taught at the Chicago Institute of Design; while at Harvard, collaborated with Christopher Alexander and at Yale with Alexander Tzonis. During his time in the USA, he designed textiles, interiors, and exhibitions and painted; (with Alexander) published the book Community and Privacy: Toward a New Architecture of Humanism (1963) and (with Tzonis) The Shape of Community: Realisation of Human Potential (1971). 

Serge Chermayeff Radio (model AC74) 1933
Serge Chermayeff Radio (model AC74) 1933

British Works

In Britain, his work included a 1930 remodelled apartment, London, for himself. 

  • 1929—30 Cambridge Theatre, London; 
  • 1931—32 studios and fittings, BBC, London and 1934, Birmingham; 
  • 1933—34 (with Mendelsohn) Shrubs Wood; 
  • 1933—35 (with Mendelsohn) Earl De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill-on-Sea; 
  • 1936 (with Mendelsohn) house, Chalfont St. Giles; 
  • 1936 (with Mendelsohn) house, Chelsea; 
  • Ciro’s shop, London; 1935—38 own house, Bentley Wood, near Halland; house, Rugby; 
  • furniture designs for Pel and Plan; radio cabinet designs for Ekco;
  • 1936—38 research laboratories for ICI, Manchester; 
  • designs for ARP;
  • From 1929, carpets are woven in England by Wilton Royal Carpet, near Salisbury. 

American works

In the USA, his work included the 1942 Mayhew House in Oakland, California; 

  • 1942 Horn house, Redwood (Marin County), California;
  • 1945—72 extension to own home, Truro, Massachusetts; 
  • 1954 and 1956 houses, Truro; 
  • 1962—63 residence, New Haven, Connecticut. 

Exhibitions

Came into prominence with furnishings for 1928—29′ Exhibition of Modern Furnishings,’ London. His Plan furniture was shown in his ‘Weekend House’ installation, 1933 ‘British Industrial Art in Relationship to the Home’ exhibition, London.

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.

Tilson, B. (1990). Plan Furniture 1932-1938: The German Connection. Journal of Design History, 3(2/3), 145-155. Retrieved April 6, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/1315683

More Industrial Designers

  • Aldo Rossi (1931 – 1997), Italian designer and architect

    Aldo Rossi (1931 – 1997), Italian designer and architect

    Aldo Rossi (1931 – 1997) was an Italian architect. He was born and professionally active in Milan. He is considered by many to be the greatest Italian architect of the second half of the 20th century. His life as an architect began with Gardella and Zanuso. Read More →

    Read More

  • Franco Mirenzi ( b. 1942 ) Italian Industrial Designer

    Franco Mirenzi ( b. 1942 ) Italian Industrial Designer

    Franco Mirenzi is an Italian industrial designer who was born in 1942.Read More →

    Read More

  • Rodolfo Dordoni (b.1954) Italian Architect and Designer

    Rodolfo Dordoni (b.1954) Italian Architect and Designer

    he was artistic director of Cappellini International Interiors and in charge of corporate image and communications; from 1982, he was consultant designer for several firms on pavilions, shops, and exhibition stands.Read More →

    Read More

  • Theo Colenbrander: The First Dutch Industrial Designer

    Theo Colenbrander: The First Dutch Industrial Designer

    Discover Theo Colenbrander, the first Dutch industrial designer who revolutionized Dutch decorative earthenware. With his innovative and abstracted designs, he transformed ceramics at Plateelbakkerij Rozenburg from 1884 to 1888. Colenbrander’s influence extended beyond ceramics to textiles, incorporating European styles and Java’s batik patterns. Explore his life, creative contributions, and lasting design legacy.Read More →

    Read More

  • Victor Papanek (1923 – 1998) socially responsible Design Prophet

    Victor Papanek (1923 – 1998) socially responsible Design Prophet

    Victor Papanek was a socially responsible designer. Design for the Real World, his book, was released in 20 different languages. TELL ME MORERead More →

    Read More

  • OMK Design and Rodney Kinsman RDI

    OMK Design and Rodney Kinsman RDI

    OMK Design is a British design group. It was established in 1966 by Rodney Kinsman, Jerzy Olejnik, Bryan Morrison. They all trained at the London Central School of Arts and Crafts. The group produced its furniture, including its 1969 T5 chair.Read More →

    Read More

  • Claus Luthe: A Visionary Automobile Designer from Germany

    Claus Luthe: A Visionary Automobile Designer from Germany

    Explore the remarkable career of Claus Luthe, an influential German automobile designer, known for his innovative contributions to iconic brands such as NSU, Audi-NSU, and BMW. Discover Luthe’s design language, including the iconic “bathtub” shape and the revolutionary wedge form, which left an indelible mark on the automotive industry. Learn about his role in shaping…

    Read More

  • Rachel Heritage (b.1958), British Industrial Designer

    Rachel Heritage (b.1958), British Industrial Designer

    Rachel Heritage is a British industrial designer known for her work in furniture and lighting design. Born in 1958 in London, she studied furniture design at Kingston Polytechnic and the Royal College of Art. In 1985, she co-founded Heritage Design in London with her brother Paul Heritage. Rachel has showcased her designs at exhibitions in…

    Read More

  • Angelo Cortesi: A Visionary Italian Industrial Designer

    Angelo Cortesi: A Visionary Italian Industrial Designer

    Angelo Cortesi is an esteemed Italian industrial designer known for his innovative and functional designs. With a career spanning several decades, Cortesi has left a lasting impact on the design world. From his collaborations with renowned clients to his leadership roles in prestigious organizations, Cortesi’s work continues to inspire designers globally. His numerous awards, including…

    Read More

  • Geoffrey Harcourt (b.1935) British Furniture Designer

    Geoffrey Harcourt (b.1935) British Furniture Designer

    Between 1960-61, he worked at Latham, Tyler and Jensen, Chicago, and with Jacob Jensen in Copenhagen; in 1961, opened his studio in London, specialising in furniture design; from 1962; began designing seating for Artifort, the Netherlands, who produced more than 20 models of his furniture designsRead More →

    Read More

  • Ambrogio Pozzi (b.1931) Italian Industrial Designer

    Ambrogio Pozzi (b.1931) Italian Industrial Designer

    He worked in the family firm Ceramica Franco Pozzi in Gallarate from 1951 and redesigned its traditional products in an award-winning Functional style. His widely published 1970 Compact stacking coffee service was designed for machine production in three sizes. He set up his design practice, where clients included Riedel, Rossi, Guzzini, Pierre Cardin, Rosenthal, Norex,…

    Read More

  • Marc Harrison (1936 – 1998) American Industrial designer

    Marc Harrison (1936 – 1998) American Industrial designer

    Marc Harrison (1936-1998) was an industrial designer from the United States. Harrison sustained a significant brain injury in a sledding accident when he was eleven years old. He had to relearn simple functions like walking and talking as a result of the crash. Harrison gained experience and motivation for his future work as an industrial…

    Read More

  • Sakura Adachi: A Fusion of Concept and Craftsmanship in Design

    Sakura Adachi: A Fusion of Concept and Craftsmanship in Design

    Sakura Adachi is a highly acclaimed designer known for her unique fusion of conceptual thinking and expert craftsmanship. Born in Japan and educated in London, she established herself in Milan, collaborating with renowned design studios. Adachi gained international recognition at the Copenhagen International Furniture Fair and went on to establish her own design studio. Her…

    Read More

  • Robert Radford Welch: A Visionary British Product Designer and Silversmith

    Robert Radford Welch: A Visionary British Product Designer and Silversmith

    Robert Radford Welch was a British product designer and silversmith known for his innovative stainless-steel designs. His career began with studies in painting and silversmithing, culminating in specialized training at the Royal College of Art. Welch established his own workshop in Chipping Campden, where he continued the tradition of the Arts and Crafts movement. Influenced…

    Read More

  • Gino Valle  (1923 – 2003) Italian architect, designer and town planner

    Gino Valle (1923 – 2003) Italian architect, designer and town planner

    Gino Valle (1923 – 2003) was. Italian architect, designer, and town planner. He was born in Udine. He studied at the Instituto Universitario di Architettura, Venice, to 1948. From 1951, he was at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, Cambridge, Massachusetts.Read More →

    Read More

  • Alfredo Häberli ( b. 1964), Argentinian industrial designer

    Alfredo Häberli ( b. 1964), Argentinian industrial designer

    In Häberli’s design method, the human being is the beginning point. His constructions and items are made to be utilised.Read More →

    Read More

  • Marilena Boccato Italian Product Pesigner

    Marilena Boccato Italian Product Pesigner

    Marilena Boccato is a designer from Italy who worked in Treviso and Padua. In 1967, Boccato began her professional career. She collaborated with Gian Nicola Gigante and Antonio Zambusi.Read More →

    Read More

  • Teapot with warmer by Christopher Dresser

    Teapot with warmer by Christopher Dresser

    He developed a variety of every day goods for silverware manufactures in London and Birmingham between 1865 and 1885.Read More →

    Read More

  • Livio Castiglioni (1911-1979): Italian Industrial Designer and Lighting Innovator

    Livio Castiglioni (1911-1979): Italian Industrial Designer and Lighting Innovator

    In 1938, Castiglioni and his brother Pier Giacomo Castiglioni set up a studio with Luigi Caccia Dominioni, which closed in 1940. Read More →

    Read More

  • Douglas Kelley ( b.1928 ) American Industrial Designer

    Douglas Kelley ( b.1928 ) American Industrial Designer

    Douglas Kelley (born 1928) is an American industrial designer best known for creating the T-chair and the Elna Lotus sewing machine.Read More →

    Read More

You may also be interested in

Serge Mouille French Lighting Designer – Encyclopedia of Design

Serge Mouille was a French Lighting Designer; he was born and active in Paris. Mouille studied silversmithing, École des Artes Appliqués, Paris to 1941. In 1937, he worked in silversmith and sculptor Gilbert Lacroix’s studio. In 1945 he set up a studio while teaching at École des Artes Appliqués, Paris.

Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.