Podcast Summary: Women Designers You Should Know – Episode 022: Charlotte Perriand: Escaping Le Corbusier’s Shadow (w/ Adi Goodrich)

Introduction

In Episode 022 of Women Designers You Should Know, host Amber Asay delves into the life and legacy of Charlotte Perriand, a pioneering French designer whose contributions to modernist furniture and architecture have only recently begun to receive the recognition they deserve. Joined by multidisciplinary designer A.D. Goodrich, the episode explores Perriand's groundbreaking work, her collaboration and eventual fallout with Le Corbusier, and her enduring impact on design history.

Guest Background: A.D. Goodrich’s Journey

A.D. Goodrich, a renowned designer specializing in commercial interiors, set design, and furniture creation for major brands like Apple, Google, and Nike, shares insights into her own career path and how it parallels the resilience and creativity of Charlotte Perriand.

• Early Influences and Career Beginnings

  • Goodrich recounts her upbringing in Chicago, where her father’s work as an architectural restorer and antiques dealer ignited her passion for craftsmanship. "[...] I was always obsessed with construction," she reflects (02:51).
  • Leaving high school early to work full-time in her father’s business, she gained invaluable hands-on experience in woodworking and construction, laying the foundation for her future in design.

• Education and Shift to Set Design

  • Attending the Art Institute of Chicago and later studying at La Sorbonne in Paris, Goodrich developed a diverse skill set encompassing painting, architectural preservation, and art history.
  • Her transition from window dressing for Barney’s New York to set design in Los Angeles marked a pivotal moment. “[...] I finally started to see that this was actually where I needed to be,” she explains (10:21).

Charlotte Perriand’s Early Career and Collaboration with Le Corbusier

Turning the spotlight to Charlotte Perriand, the episode chronicles her ascent in the design world and her influential partnership with Le Corbusier.

• Education and Early Innovations

  • Born in Paris in 1903, Perriand enrolled at Ecole des Arts Decoratives at 17, immersing herself in interior design and furniture studies. Her early adoption of industrial materials like chrome and aluminum set her apart from contemporaries entrenched in Art Deco (24:11).

• Breaking Barriers with Le Corbusier

  • In 1927, Perriand approached Le Corbusier for a position despite his initial resistance to hiring women. Her persistence paid off when her innovative Bar Surf project impressed Pierre Jeanneret, leading to her pivotal role in Le Corbusier’s studio (27:18).
  • Together, they created iconic pieces such as the LC1 Sling Chair, LC2 Grand Comfort Armchair, and the LC4 Chaise Lounge. Goodrich highlights, “She used her own body to test its ergonomics,” underscoring the unique, human-centered approach Perriand brought to design (33:28).

Major Contributions and Iconic Designs

Perriand’s work with Le Corbusier produced numerous influential designs that remain celebrated today.

• LC Series Chairs

  • The LC1, LC2, and LC4 chairs exemplify Perriand’s minimalist aesthetic and focus on functionality. Originally featuring vibrant colors, these pieces emphasized comfort and ergonomic form, reflecting her philosophy that "design should serve the space and the people inhabiting it" (30:07).

• Unity d’Habitation and Les Arcs Ski Resort

  • Post-war collaborations, such as Unity d’Habitation in Marseille, showcased Perriand’s expertise in modular and space-saving designs. Her work on Les Arcs Ski Resort further cemented her reputation for creating sustainable, human-centered environments (44:43).

Challenges and Recognition

Despite her significant contributions, Perriand’s work was often overshadowed by Le Corbusier’s dominant personality and reputation.

• Struggles for Recognition

  • Initially, many of Perriand’s designs were attributed solely to Le Corbusier. Her pragmatic nature led her to continue contributing without seeking the limelight. Goodrich notes, “For years, she was written out of history,” highlighting the systemic challenges women designers faced (34:17).

• Later Acknowledgments

  • In her later years, Perriand began receiving the recognition she deserved. She was appointed Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters in 1985 and awarded the Legion of Honor in 1998. Posthumous exhibitions, including a major retrospective at the Centre Pompidou in 2005, solidified her legacy (50:33).

Design Philosophy and Legacy

Perriand’s design ethos centered on blending functionality with aesthetics to create harmonious, user-centered spaces.

• Human-Centered Design

  • Perriand believed, "Design is not about the object itself. It is about how that object affects the people who use it," emphasizing the importance of the human element in design (44:43).

• Integration of Eastern and Western Influences

  • Her time in Japan (1940-1946) deeply influenced her work, integrating Eastern simplicity and restraint with Western industrial materials. “[...] the lessons I learned from Japan were not about materials or techniques alone, but about the importance of simplicity and restraint in creating spaces for human life to unfold,” she asserted (42:08).

Reflective Insights and Takeaways

Both host Amber Asay and guest A.D. Goodrich reflect on the enduring lessons from Perriand’s career.

• Resilience and Integrity

  • Goodrich admires Perriand's “strong character” and “confident designer” qualities, which allowed her to navigate and eventually overcome the male-dominated design industry (53:59).

• User-Centric Approach

  • Asay emphasizes the importance of designing with the user in mind, inspired by Perriand’s philosophy of connecting people through design and maintaining design integrity throughout the creative process (54:25).

Conclusion

Episode 022 of Women Designers You Should Know offers an in-depth exploration of Charlotte Perriand’s remarkable career and lasting impact on modern design. Through the lens of A.D. Goodrich’s experiences and reflections, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of Perriand’s contributions, challenges, and the philosophies that continue to inspire designers today. Amber Asay underscores the importance of recognizing and celebrating such trailblazing women to ensure their legacies remain integral to design history.

Notable Quotes

• A.D. Goodrich on her early passion: “[...] I was always obsessed with construction” (02:51).
• Perriand’s design philosophy: “Design is not about the object itself. It is about how that object affects the people who use it” (44:43).
• Goodrich on Perriand’s resilience: “I think being really strong in your convictions and sticking to, like, what you want to do will only create more work that you want to do” (18:38).
• Asay’s takeaway: “It is a good reminder to really stick it out to the end because that really is sometimes the hardest part is all of those details at the end” (54:25).

Resources Mentioned

• Charlotte Perriand: Inventing a New World – A comprehensive book chronicling Perriand’s work.
• A Life of Creation (Une Vie de Création) – Perriand’s autobiography providing personal insights into her career and philosophies.
• Exhibitions:
  • Centre Pompidou, Paris (2005)
  • Foundation Louis Vuitton

Final Thoughts

This episode not only sheds light on Charlotte Perriand’s indispensable role in modern design but also highlights the broader narrative of women’s contributions being historically undervalued. Goodrich’s personal anecdotes and professional insights enrich the discussion, making Perriand’s story both inspirational and instructive for current and future designers.