Alexander Girard: Designing for the World

“Infinite are man's expressions of beauty and love; open your eyes, your ears, and your heart to them, and you will unite the peoples of the world.”

Alexander Girard

Born in 1907 in New York City, Alexander Girard was one of the leading figures of post-war American design. Trained as an architect but proficient in nearly all design disciplines, he would spend his long and prolific career working in the fields of furniture, exhibition, interior and graphic design. In addition, he was head of the textile division at the prestigious American furniture company Herman Miller for over 20 years. During his tenure, he created over 300 textiles, numerous collections of wallpapers, and his Environmental Enrichment Panels, for which he made an iconic set of graphics, both abstract and figurative, that continue to influence the design world of today.

Girard was a designer who stood out from the crowd. He loved to play and push the boundaries. His vibrant use of colour brought new warmth and life to mid-century minimalism, a style often criticized for its lack of sensuality. He injected a burst of colour into the drab post-war era, mirroring the hope and optimism of the time. It is his bold use of colour and his expertise in graphics that still influence us here at Lagom Design. Having worked for the American greeting card company Hallmark on a number of exhibitions, as well as having a practice of creating his own cards for holidays and other occasions, it's not hard to see how his work translates beautifully into the contemporary world of paper correspondence.

“Art is only art if it is synonymous with living.”

Alexander Girard

For Girard, design was not just about decoration; it was a means of self-expression and a tool to craft immersive environments for people to live, work, and play. His upbringing in Italy and extensive travels throughout the world influenced his designs, giving them a broad, global appeal. He blended typography, colour and his love of folk art to create textiles, furniture, and objects that transformed interior design. One of his most notable achievements was his work on the Latin American-themed restaurant La Fonda del Sol in New York City in 1960. Here, he was able to utilize all of his skills, from designing the architectural layout of the space, which would include many pieces of folk art collected for this project, to the tableware, linens, graphics, textiles and even sugar packets and bathroom faucets. As was often the case, he also brought in his friends and colleagues to collaborate on certain aspects of a project, namely the Eames for new dining chairs and the fashion designer Rudi Gernreich on the staff uniforms. No detail was left unconsidered, and the result was a restaurant unlike any other at the time or since.

“My greatest enjoyment and satisfaction in the solution of any project is uncovering the latent fantasy and magic in it and convincing my client to join in this process.”

Alexander Girard

Girard's understanding of design went beyond structure and form; he believed it could infuse the world with a sense of creativity unbound by convention or expectation of current trends and fads. His approach was about filling spaces with textures, colours, symbols, and whimsy to create simple beauty. From the home to the corporate office, Girard's legacy is one of brightness, happiness, and optimism.