Dieter Rams: “Less, But Better.”

This short video is an introduction to the functionalist designer, Dieter Rams. The former Director of Design at Braun (1960 - 1995) revolutionised the way that consumer products both looked and worked.  His impact on the design world is still felt today with product designers like Jonathon Ive from Apple emulating and developing his minimalist approach to consumer product design.

Dieter Rams has famously provided designers with his own guide to successful design. These are now known as the "10 commandments". They are:

• Good design is innovative
• Good design makes a product useful
• Good design is aesthetic
• Good design helps us to understand a product
• Good design is unobtrusive
• Good design is honest
• Good design is long-lasting
• Good design is consequent to the last detail
• Good design is concerned with the environment
• Good design is as little design as possible

Have a look at the video below and leave a comment telling us what you think:

• Do you like the work of Dieter Rams? Why?
• Do you prefer the work of Apple and Jonathon Ive? Why?
• Do you think Apple ripped off/copied Dieter Rams or improved upon his work? Why?
• What do you think of the 10 commandements?
• Are their any other products (electronic products, buildings, furniture....anything at all!) you know of that fit in to this style of design? Leave a link so we can take a look.

The Design Museum in London currently has an exhibition of Dieter Rams work up until the 9th of March 2010.