I have my file which is called To Do. I have my plans. I have my clients. I am doing my work like I always did. 

Eva Zeisel during her Ted Talk at the age of 94.

Age is a funny little number. I’ve met people in their 20’s who are already set in their ways, and people in their 80’s who belly laugh every single day. I’m a firm believer that it’s important to find people who are vibrant and happily productive in their later years to look to as beacons of hope that our own later years aren’t predestined to be spent watching game shows and eating soup.

Eva Zeisel worked well into her final 105th year. She began as a potter’s apprentice at the age of 18, and built one of the most impressive industrial design careers of the modern era. She was endlessly inspired by beauty and playful creative discovery, and I can’t imagine a better way to claim your vitality and remain ageless, than by dreaming up and creating beauty to share with others. Eva’s most iconic and recognizable works are her pottery and ceramic designs, but she continually explored new design mediums – even more so as she grew older.

In the spirit of it’s never too late, I thought it would be fun to show you a small sampling of Eva’s projects in her 90’s and 100’s – I find her incredibly inspiring and hope you do too!

94 yrs old: gives Ted Talk on the Playful Search for Beauty

96 yrs old : designs pens & desk accessories for Acme Studios

102 yrs old: designs hand blown glass vases for Gumps

102 yrs old : began a collaboration to design rugs for The Rug Company

104 yrs old: Creates silkscreens in collaboration with KleinReid

*Dinnerware set above available at DWR.