Metro Hippie

Dieter Rams is a man, not a myth, but indeed a legend.  The German industrial designer has had a storied career at consumer products company, Braun, serving as its head of design from 1961 to 1995.  He made Braun a household name in the 50’s, producing coffee makers, calculators, radios, audio/visual equipment, consumer appliances and office products with an incredible balance of aesthetic and user-friendliness… many of his designs have found a permanent home at museums throughout the world, including MOMA in New York.

Dieter Rams standing next to a table full of his goods.

Rams’ inspiration was drawn from the functionalist school of industrial design which he translated to ‘Less, but better.’  His work was incredibly clean… minimal and timeless.  He stood for sustainable development decades ago, understanding that designers were accountable for creating virtually everything that ended up in landfills.  He stood for true functionalism, for anti-styling, anti-waste… back in the early 80’s he asked himself ‘is my design good design?’  The answer formed his now celebrated 10 commandments of design, which are as relevant today as ever before…. Here they are:

Good Design is Innovative // The possibilities for innovation are not, by any means, exhausted. Technological development is always offering new opportunities for innovative design. But innovative design always develops in tandem with innovative technology, and can never be an end in itself.

Good Design Makes a Product Useful // A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy certain criteria, not only functional, but also psychological and aesthetic. Good design emphasizes the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.

Good Design is Aesthetic // The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products we use every day affect our person and our well-being. But only well-executed objects can be beautiful.

Good Design Makes a Product Understandable // It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory.

Good Design is Unobtrusive // Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression.

Good Design is Honest // It does not make a product more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.

Good Design is Long-Lasting // It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even in today’s throwaway society.

Good Design is Thorough, Down to the Last Detail // Nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the consumer.

Good Design is Environmentally Friendly // Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimizes physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.

Good Design is as Little Design as Possible // Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials.

Back to purity, back to simplicity.

Dieter Rams’ work is undeniably timeless… many of his objects that were manufactured in the 60’s – 80’s look like they could have been made today.  And they certainly did have their influence… take a look at this spread of Braun vs. Apple products.

-j