NY Times: Design Gets More Diverse
Date: Mar. 20, 2011
The New York Times
A recent New York Times article by Alice Rawsthorn featured three successful African-American designers and discussed diversity in design and talked about Chuck's experience in comparison to today's designers. Although many strides have been made since Chuck began working, there clearly is a great deal of work ahead to give creative young African Americans the knowledge, skills resources to succeed in the design world.Read the article here.
A Conversation: Designer Charles Harrison and SAIC President Walter Massey
Date: Feb. 7, 2011
SAIC Sullivan Galleries, Chicago, IL
Chuck Harrison Visits the View-Master's Birthplace
Date: Sept. 24-28, 2010
Oregon Caves Chateau, Cave Junction, OR
From September 24th to the 28th, Oregon Caves National Monument and the Oregon Caves Outfitters hosted Charles Harrison. Harrison redesigned the now classic View-Master, which was invented at Oregon Caves in 1938. The public was invited free of charge to hear his talk on the View-Master and his career.
More information about Oregon Caves
Cal State Long Beach Industrial Design Visit
Date: Apr. 29, 2010
California State University, Long Beach, CA
Chuck visited the Indstrial Design department. "We very much enjoyed Chuck's visit. My class talked to him for over two hours. Here are some pictures for you." David Teubner
Smithsonian Spotlight Celebrates National Design Awards
Date: Mar. 2, 2010
Smithsonian Channel
In celebration of the National Design Awards 10th Anniversary, Chuck Harrison was featured on the Smithsonian Channel's Spotlight Program. The hour-long program included many of Chuck's designs most well-known designs and included an interview with Chuck and Cooper-Hewitt Director of Education Carolyn Payson. This edition of Smithsonian Spotlight also showcased National Design Awards winners from several other disciplines including environmental design and fashion.
Building a Creative Legacy
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, 11:30AM – 1:30PM
Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ
Chuck is the guest speaker for The 8th Annual African Heritage Celebration Luncheon. Chuck graduated from Phoenix's Carver High School in 1948 at age 16. He credits his Art Teacher, internationally recognized Artist Dr. J. Eugene Grigsby Jr., as key to his design career. This event will also mark the celebration of Dr. Grigsby's 91st birthday.
Make/Think: Becoming a Strong Designer
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009, 9AM – 10:45AM
AIGA Design Conference, Memphis, TN
Chuck shared the Make/Think (http://designconference2009.aiga.org) main stage with design student Ethan Bodnar to co-present on building their careers in an engaging and thoughtful look at the differences and similarities of these two uniquely successful designers.
Chuck during his presentation at AIGA Make/Think
Ethan Bodnar and Chuck Harrison during some down-time.
Change by Design: A New Paradigm for Designers
Special Event at NeoCon in Chicago
Date/Time: Tuesday, June 16, 2009 – 3:00 p.m.
Holiday Inn Mart Plaza – Sauganash Ballroom
Sponsored by Herman Miller
Presented by
FocusOnDESIGN
Attendee Registration for NeoCon
From the designer's mind to reality we conceive of environments, communications and products that essentially shape the world we live in. Chuck Harrison, industrial designer and educator will provide insight into how designers can impact change in the 21st century. The first Black design executive to work for a major corporation, Harrison improved the quality of life of millions through the breadth and innovation of his designs for more than three decades. He received the Cooper-Hewitt 2008 National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement. A book signing of his insightful memoir, A Life's Design, will follow.
Honorary Doctorate from the School of the Art Institute
Date/Time: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Pritzker Pavilion, Millennium Park, Chicago
Chuck will receive an honorary doctorate from his undergraduate alma mater, present brief remarks during the commencement ceremony and participate in the dedication of the highly anticipated Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago's.
Intelligent Designer
Charles Harrison, former industrial designer at Sears, Roebuck and Company, created practical innovations that touched many lives
By Megan Gambino
Smithsonian magazine, January 2009
The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt honors the prolific industrial designer with its Lifetime Achievement Award
In 1966, Charles "Chuck" Harrison, an industrial designer at Sears, Roebuck & Company, got rid of an everyday nuisance—the early-morning clanging of metal garbage cans—by creating the first-ever plastic garbage bin. "When that can hit the market, it did so with the biggest bang you never heard," wrote Harrison in his 2005 book, A Life's Design. "Everyone was using it, but few people paid close attention to it."
Charles (Chuck) Harrison
Read Chuck's Interview with Smithsonian
Read the Smithsonian article: Intelligent Design
Get The Book
- Amazon.com
- Chicago: Art Institute of Chicago
- New York City: Cooper-Hewitt
Bookseller and Media Inquiries
Designed by Chuck
I still have my 1972 Kenmore sewing machine as pictured in the [Smithsonian] article and it still stitches beautifully. It has become quite collectible nowadays; and I am thrilled to know more about the gentleman who designed it. Good Job, Mr Harrison! The style and quality has endured.
Posted by Deena Flanigan on February 26, 2009 | 08:02PM
Elements of Honest Design
"I try to keep in mind, when I am designing, that ultimately, someone else is going to use it."