Dieter Rams

Professor Dieter Rams at the 50th Anniversary of Braun Innovation exhibition, Boston 2005

Dieter Rams (born 20 May 1932 in Wiesbaden) is a German industrial designer closely associated with the Braun company.

Rams learned carpentry as an apprentice. He also studied architecture at the Werkkunstschule Wiesbaden.

After working at an architecture firm from 1953 and 1955 he joined Braun. He was successful at Braun and became chief of design from 1961.

Rams once explained his design approach in the phrase "Weniger, aber besser" meaning "Less, but better." Many of his designs such as coffee makers, radios, audio/visual equipment, and office products are on display in museums over the world. Dieter Rams retired from Braun in 1998.

Rams designed a cover for Wallpaper magazine.

Dieter Rams’ rules for good design

Rams came up with a set of rules for making a good design:

1. Good design is innovative
2. Good design makes a product useful
3. Good design is aesthetic
4. Good design helps us to understand a product
5. Good design is unobtrusive
6. Good design is honest
7. Good design is long lasting
8. Good design is includes every detail
9. Good design is concerned with the environment
10. Good design is as little design as possible

Dieter Rams Media

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  Braun Phonosuper SK 4, "Snow White's coffin," by Dieter Rams and Hans Gugelot for Braun, 1956

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  Rams's furniture in a Vitsœ store in Tokyo

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  Brauns Phonosuper SK 61, detalj

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  Braun SK 61 radiogram, 1956

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  Braun Transistor 1 radio, 1957

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  Braun TP 1 portable transistor radio and phonograph, 1959

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  Elektrostatischer Lautsprecher LE1*Design: Dieter Rams, 1959

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  Vitsœ Model 601 lounge chair, 1960

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  Vitsœ 606 Universal Shelving System, 1960