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Charles DeMirjian oral history interview transcript

Creation: 1997 May 23
 Collection
Accession: 2269

Abstract

Charles H. DeMirjian (1925-) was a packaging design manager with E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. The record consists of a thirteen-page transcript of a taped interview of DeMirjian conducted by then-director of the Hagley Museum and Library Glenn Porter. In his reminiscences, DeMirjian recounts his training and career history, plus some observations on his mode of work.

Dates

  • Creation: 1997 May 23

Creator

Extent

2 item(s)

Biographical Note

Charles H. DeMirjian (1925-) was a packaging design manager with E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company. He attended a fine arts school in Philadelphia that is now part of the University of the Arts, followed by studies at the Charles Morris Price School of Advertising and Journalism, housed in the Poor Richard Club. He was employed from approximately 1951 to 1954 as sales promotion manager of the Sun Ray Drug Company, then the largest drug store chain in Philadelphia.

Seeking a job with greater design responsibility, DeMirjian joined the Fabrics & Finishes Department of E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company in July 1954, at a time when DuPont was placing greater emphasis on marketing to the consumer. In that role, DeMirjian worked primarily with the marketing of Duco® and Lucite® paint products. A new Consumer Products Division was formed within the department in 1963, and DeMirjian became manager of packaging design. He was primarily a manager of designers, helping to establish design parameters and making the final selections from work submitted by subordinates and subcontractors. DeMirjian supervised an integrated approach that combined marketing research, advertising, and package design.

DeMirjian began working with the Corian® line during the early 1980s, and helped turn what had been a profit-losing business into a profit-making one through the enlistment of proper advertising and merchandising. Launched in 1967, Corian widely used non-porous, solid-surface material that is stain resistant, repairable, and even recyclable. It is largely used in bathroom and kitchen applications as countertops. Offered in a wide variety of colors, Corian can also be formed into any shape, making it a popular medium for use by designers.

Scope and Contents

The record consists of a thirteen-page transcript of a taped interview of DeMirjian conducted by then-director of the Hagley Museum and Library Glenn Porter. In his reminiscences, DeMirjian recounts his training and career history, plus some observations on his mode of work, with emphasis on the "Rain Dance" car wax and "Stainmaster" carpet campaigns. The transcript is accompanied by a three-page typed letter dated June 2, 1997, from DeMirjian to Porter clarifying some of his remarks.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Related Materials

A large collection of packaging materials designed by DeMirjian and his team are housed as artifacts under the care and administration of the Museum Division at Hagley Museum and Library. These materials may be viewed only by appointment.

Language of Materials

English

Related Names

Subject

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title:
Charles DeMirjian oral history interview transcript
Description rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description:
English
Script of description:
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
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