“Shock Mounts and Assisted Living: The War Time Development of the Eames DCM Chair” is the title of Michael Golec’s talk tonight at Carleton College. Designed in the 1950s by Charles and Ray Eames for the Herman Miller furniture company, the chair is an iconic symbol of mid-century modern design, and has remained in continuous production.

The Eames’ first chair, the Eames Lounge Chair Wood, used heavy rubber washers (known as shock mounts) glued to the backrest of the chair and screwed to the lumbar support, so the backrest could flex slightly.

Golec, associate professor of the History of Design at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, will also discuss how the plywood leg splints the Eames’ created during World War II were used to help veterans manage their return to post-war society.

Michael Golec. 5:30 p.m. today. Free. Boliou Hall Auditorium, Carleton College, Northfield. For more information, call (507) 222-4341.