Monday, July 15, 2013

Dieter Rams's ten principles of "good design"

Wikipedia

Dieter Rams

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Designer-Dieter Rams-at-Vitsœ.jpg

Rams began studies in  architecture  and  interior decoration at Wiesbaden 
School of Art in 1947. Soon after in 1948, he took a break  from studying to
gain practical experience  and  conclude  his  carpentry  apprenticeship. He 
resumed studies at  Wiesbaden  School  of Art in 1948  and graduated with 
honours in 1953 after which he began working for Frankfurt based architect 
Otto Apel. In 1955, he was recruited to Braun as an architect and an interior
designer. In addition, in 1961, he became the Chief Design Officer at Braun
until 1995.[1]Life and career

[edit]

Dieter Rams was strongly influenced by the presence of his grandfather, a carpenter. Rams once
explained his design approach in the phrase "Weniger, aber besser" which translates as "Less, 
but better". Rams and his staff designed many memorable products for Braun including the famous
SK-4 record player and the high-quality 'D'-series (D45, D46) of 35 mm film slide projectors. He is
also known for designing the 606 Universal Shelving System by Vitsœ in 1960.
By producing electronic gadgets that were remarkable in their austere aesthetic and user
friendliness,Rams made Braun a household name in the 1950s. He is considered to be one of the most influential
industrial designers of the 20th century.[1]
Many of his designs — coffee makers, calculators, radios, audio/visual equipment, consumer
appliances and office products — have found a permanent home at many museums over the world, including 
MoMA in New York. For nearly 30 years Dieter Rams served as head of design for Braun A.G. until his retirement
in 1998. He continues to be highly regarded in design circles and currently has a major
retrospective of his work on tour around the world.
In 2010, to mark his contribution to the world of design, he was awarded the 'Kölner Klopfer'
prize by the students of the Cologne International School of Design. In addition, as successor to the Bauhaus, Rams 
eventually became a protégé of the Ulm School of Design in Ulm, Germany.[2]

Rams's ten principles of "good design"[edit]

Rams introduced the idea of sustainable development and of obsolescence being a crime in design in the
1970s.[1] Accordingly he asked himself the question: is my design good design? The answer formed his 
now celebrated ten principles.
Good design:[3]
  1. Is innovative.
  2. Makes a product useful.
  3. Is aesthetic. 
  4. Makes a product understandable.
  5. Is unobtrusive.
  6. Is honest.
  7. Is long-lasting.
  8. Is thorough down to the last detail.
  9. Is environmentally friendly.
  10. Is as little design as possible.

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