James Yang launches "Charles & Ray: Designers at Play," with Josh Cochran

Charles was an architect. Ray was a painter. Together they made the perfect team. By using structure, shape, and color, they knew they could transform anything. And because they saw problem-solving as an adventure, they were able to incorporate playfulness into everything they designed.
Geisel Award-winning author and illustrator James Yang has created an exuberant story about Charles and Ray Eames, two of the most iconic designers of the Mid-century modern design movement, which will inspire readers to dream up new ways to see the world around them.

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"Young readers may not have the context to recognize how beautifully Yang tips his hat to mid-century-modern design, but they will come away with a sense of how exhilarating it can be to make something new—and with whetted appetites for discovering more.” —Publishers Weekly

"Mid-century modern style is brought to life in the blocky, bold illustrations of Charles and Ray and their work. Covering an art style seldom found in books for this age group, award-winning Yang’s latest will be a welcome addition where art and design books are popular.” —Booklist

James Yang was born in Oklahoma and graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Communication Arts and Design. Within a few years of entering illustration, his work appeared in prestigious trade publications such as Communication Arts, 3×3 Magazine, Graphis, Print, and The Art Directors Club of New York. James has won over 250 awards for design and illustration including best of show from 3×3 Magazine. He has taught and lectured at a variety of institutions including SVA, Parsons, FIT, SCAD and was an executive board member for ICON, a biennial illustration conference. His book, Bus! Stop! was selected as an outstanding picture book by The New York Times and the follow up Stop! Bot! is the 2020 Geisel award winner for the most distinguished American book for beginning readers. A Boy Named Isamu, called by Kirkus review “A marvel of prose, illustration and design,” is the 2022 APALA-American Library Association Honor picture book for Asian American Literature. His subway wallpaper can be seen on trains in the Metropolitan Transit system. James currently lives in Brooklyn where he happily works for a variety of clients and books.

Originally from California and Taiwan, Josh Cochran is an illustrator and muralist living in Brooklyn. He has received a Grammy nomination for album art. He has illustrated several children's books including Drawing on Walls: A Story of Keith Haring by Matthew Burgess. Avid traveler and marathon runner, Josh also teaches at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. His installations and murals can be seen at places like The New York Transit Museum, Lea Elementary School 3rd floor in West Philly and off Pearl Street at the Asian Arts Initiative.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Lofty Pigeon Books, Church Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, USA, United States