Awards and Accolades

Chuck Harrison with the View Master

Industrial designer Charles Harrison is most famous for his work on the team that updated the View-Master, but examples of his innovations can be seen virtually everywhere. Harrison rarely visits a home that does not contain something he designed.
– Source: HistoryMakers

National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement

Charles Harrison received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum for his contribution in improving “the quality of life for millions of Americans through the extraordinary breadth and innovation of his product designs.” 
Visit National Design Awards

School of the Art Institute Honorary Doctorate

Charles Harrison was awarded an honorary doctorate by his undergraduate alma mater, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

The HistoryMakers

In 2002, Charles Harrison was inducted into The HistoryMakers.

Encyclopedia Brittanica

“In an era when aesthetics, utility, and cost-effectiveness were in unusual balance, Harrison created a variety of practical domestic goods” 
Read the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica entry.

Focus on DESIGN Lifetime Achievement Award

In October 2006, Charles Harrison was honored by Focus on DESIGN with their Lifetime Achievement Award.
Visit Focus on DESIGN

Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA)

In September 2006, Charles Harrison was honored by IDSA with their Lifetime Distinguished Service Award.
Visit IDSA

University of Illinois at Chicago

A significant body of drawings and photographs have been placed into the UIC Archives.
Visit the UIC Collection

DuSable Museum of African American History

A number of product samples and models have been placed in the archives of the DuSable Museum (Chicago, IL). 
Visit DuSable Museum

George Washington Carver Museum

The Carver Museum (Phoenix, AZ) features a room devoted to Charles Harrison’s work, which is likely the largest collection of products he designed. Visit The Carver Museum

Executive Leadership Council

In October 2003, Charles Harrison was honored by the ELC for his work as a pioneering executive at Sears Roebuck & Company.

Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum

Since 1999, the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York City has housed much of Charles Harrison’s work in its African-American Design Archive.
Visit Cooper-Hewitt

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Charles Harrison

Charles Harrison

1931 - 2018

Charles “Chuck” Harrison is a designer, educator and speaker specializing in industrial design across multiple consumer products areas. The primary portion of his career was spent working for Sears Roebuck & Company, beginning as a freelancer, then as a staff designer and later as the head of the company’s design department. A prolific designer, Harrison’s work touched almost every area of household products from cribs to tractors and everything in between.

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