Zehn Thesen für gutes Design: Dieter Rams

No wonder that the magnificent volume from Prestel brings joy just by looking at it. This book definitely belongs in the canon of world-changing works. Dieter Rams, born in 1932, created design icons of the 20th century: the radio-turntable combination SK 4 ("Snow White's coffin"), the world receiver T1000, the Hi-Fi components Regie, and the shelving system 606. He significantly shaped the appearance of the Braun company, and his name is also behind the portfolio of the furniture manufacturer Vitsoe. Based on the guiding principle of "As little design as possible," Rams' designs are simple, reduced to the essentials, and clear in form. Rams' influence is still felt today. For instance, Jonathan Ive, Chief Design Officer of Apple and responsible for the design of key Apple products from iBook to iPhone, cites Rams as a major source of inspiration.

He laid out his design principles in his "10 Theses for Good Design":

• Good design is innovative.
• Good design makes a product usable.
• Good design is aesthetic.
• Good design makes a product understandable.
• Good design is unobtrusive.
• Good design is honest.
• Good design is durable.
• Good design is consistent to the last detail.
• Good design is environmentally friendly.
• Good design is as little design as possible.

The present publication takes these guiding principles as a starting point for a comprehensive overview of Rams' work. Design experts such as Klaus Klemp (design and art historian, professor at the Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach, and curator at mak Frankfurt), Britte Siepenkothen (Dieter Rams' advisor), and Erik Mattie (art historian) discuss Rams' approaches and concepts, his thinking and design processes, as well as the philosophy behind his designs in insightful texts. Additionally, all 424 design objects that Rams has created for Braun and Vitsoe since 1955 are presented chronologically in a section of plates.