Book excerpt: Project Vitra began in 1957 in Birsfelden near Basel with the production of the furniture of Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson. Today Vitra is active and known throughout the world for its products and cultural initiatives, which are evidenced by the Vitra Design Museum, its collections, and the architecture of the firmâs own corporate campus. Vitra sees itself first and foremost as a project driven by the desire and determination to design the world. This ambition is also the driving force behind «Project Vitra», which offers an inside look at the firmâs collaboration with architects and designers, including Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Alexander Girard, Tibor Kalman, Frank Gehry, Tadao Ando, SANAA, Jasper Morrison, Zaha Hadid, Hella Jongerius, Maarten Van Severen, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Jean Prouvé, Mario Bellini, Antonio Citterio, Alberto Meda, Verner Panton, Herzog and de Meuron, and many others. The copiously illustrated chapters with contributions by Alex Coles, Rolf Fehlbaum, Luis Fernández-Galiano, Deyan Sudjic, and Alexander von Vegesack tell stories about the places, people, and products connected with Vitra. This overview is rounded off by a history of the firm and a comprehensive glossary.