Unboxing a design legacy
Aleishall & Alexander Kori Girard explore their roots
Opening one of the many boxes in the Vitra Design Museum's archives, Aleishall Girard Maxon and Alexander Kori Girard discover familiar colours, shapes and figures: they are objects by their grandfather Alexander Girard. He was one of the most influential American designers of the 20th century. But what is kept here is not only important design history, but also part of their own family history.
We accompany the two siblings on one of their visits to the archives of the Vitra Design Museum, where a significant part of Alexander Girard’s estate has been preserved since 1996. Among handmade figurines, models and folk art, they talk about their childhood in their grandparents’ house in Santa Fe – a place full of stories, rituals and fantasy. It was a home that reflected Girard’s attitude to design and life: playful, deeply rooted, but open to the world. In dialogue with Nora and Rolf Fehlbaum, it becomes clear how relevant Girard’s work still is today.
Publication: 16.05.2025
Pictures and Video: Marek Iwicki
