dieter rams: less and more

editors: klaus kemp and keiko ueki-polet
publisher: gestalten
year: 2010
size: 808 pages, 19 × 23 cm cm
isbn: 978-3-89955-277-5

designboom rating:
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in the more than 40 years that he spent working at braun, dieter rams established himself
as one of the most influential designers of the twentieth century. his elegantly clear visual language
not only defined product design for decades, but also our fundamental understanding of what
design is and what it can and should do.

content
'less and more' textually and illustratively describes the work of german designer dieter rams -
the man who defined functional design. the book provides a history behind the braun company,
where rams lead the design team more than four decades. documenting his professional life
and design approach, 'less and more' is a definitive compilation of images, sketches and models
of his products.

ranging from the small kitchen appliances, electric shavers and electronics he developed
during his extensive career at braun, to the furniture systems he designed for vitsœ and sdr+,
the illustrated projects exhibit rams' ability to always seek the ultimate unification -
pursuing an ideal relationship between the internal and external. included are product time lines
for the companies he worked for, presenting his pieces in reference to the projects of the designers
whom he worked alongside.

full-color photographs, accompanied by explanatory text give relevance to the designs at the time
in which they were made, demonstrating rams' sensibility and understanding of aesthetics
and functionality, and his consideration of the end user. discussions by members of the industry
provide insight on the timelessness of his work, putting it into the contemporary context,
allowing us to compare, re-evaluate and rediscover the rationalism of his design in today's world.

and of course, any publication on dieter rams of course it would not be complete without his
'ten principles of good design' that he created 20 years ago and which are still just
as applicable today:
good design is innovative.
good design makes a product useful.
good design is aesthetic.
good design helps to understand a product.
good design is unobtrusive.
good design is honest.
good design is durable.
good design is consequent to the last detail.
good design is concerned with environment.
good design is as little design as possible.

is it for me?
whether or not you are an avid designer, this book will give you a new appreciation for design
and the work of dieter rams. it is a great resource on the contribution he has made to the
design industry.




TP1, 1959
audio transistor (pocket transistor radio T 3/31, T4 or T 41 and record player P 1)
housing: plaster (light gray)


TP1, 1959
audio transistor (pocket transistor radio T 3/31, T4 or T 41 and record player P 1)
housing: plaster (light gray)


MPZ 2 / 21 / 22 citromatic juicer, 1972
designed by dieter rams and jürgen greubel assisted by gabriel lluelles
housing: plastic (white), lid: clear acrylic


MPZ 2 / 21 / 22 citromatic juicer, 1972
designed by dieter rams and jürgen greubel assisted by gabriel lluelles
housing: plastic (white), lid: clear acrylic


sketches of audio-visual systems for living spaces starting in 1960-1961
design department in collaboration with electronics development department, braun AG, c. 1963


models and sketches of braun products by dieter rams, peter schneider and peter hartwein


models and sketches of furniture designed by dieter rams for vitsœ


the book includes categorized time lines of braun products
pictured: radios and record players designed by dieter rams, hans guglot, helmut müller-kühn, wilhelm wagenfeld,
herbert lindinger and gerd alfred müller


sketch for a braun showroom, 1955
pencil and colored pencil on paper
the first interior design work of dieter rams at braun. an idea of a shelving system and a wall-mounted radio
can be found in the background. all furniture by knoll international. not realized.


'less and more: the design ethos of dieter rams'
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designboom ratings:

......................... interesting
................... good read, worth a look
............. very good
....... excellent, recommended
. must have
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