Saarinen began his career as a student at Yale University, and after travelling and studying across Europe, returned to the USA and taught at Cranbrook.

After becoming a Director in 1932, he collaborated on various projects with two of its graduates; namely Charles Eames and Florence Schust Knoll. Saarinen and Eames won 1 st prize at an exhibition held at the Museum of Modern Art in New York in 1940 entitled ‘Organic Design for a Home Furnishings competition.

He went on to design the remarkable TWA terminal at John F. Kennedy Airport, New York.