Today I stumbled upon Dieter Rams, a product designer who worked for Braun for most of his live - from 1955 until his retirement in 1998. More about his biography is available at wikipedia.
What really caught my attention, are his 10 design rules.
I am reading some texts of Otl Aicher at the moment, and Rams' rules seem to support Otl Aichers ideas of design and put them on a less philosophical but more practical level. Statements like a design should be "honest" and "as little design as possible" clearly base on the same ideas as Aichers, who wants design to avoid unneeded decoration. Aicher wants products, which support the ordinary - the use of it. Products which claim to support an higher idea, are manipulative and provide a tool for the people in power.
Design ...
- Is innovative
- Makes a product useful
- Is aesthetic
- Makes a product understandable
- Is unobtrusive
- Is honest
- Is long-lasting
- Is thorough down to the last detail
- Is environmentally friendly
- Is as little design as possible
Dieter Rams also designs furniture for Vitsoe - a manufacturer worth a look.