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 while disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it. 3. Good Design is Aesthetic
This is often where people get confused. Rams believed the aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because objects we use every day affect our well-being. But beauty can only be achieved through superb execution. 4. Good Design Makes a Product Understandable less and more the design ethos of dieter rams pdf pdf pdf
isn’t just a designer; he’s the architect of the modern aesthetic. If you’ve ever looked at an iPhone or a Nest thermostat and thought, "That looks clean," you’re looking at his legacy. His "Less, but better" ( Weniger, aber besser ) approach transformed how we interact with everyday objects. A product is bought to be used
It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years—even in today’s throwaway society. 8. Good Design is Thorough Down to the Last Detail But beauty can only be achieved through superb execution
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. 6. Good Design is Honest
It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product talk. At its best, it is self-explanatory. You shouldn't need a 50-page manual to figure out how to turn on a radio. 5. Good Design is Unobtrusive
If you want to see Rams’ influence in action, look no further than and Apple . The original iPod is a direct descendant of the Braun T3 pocket radio. The iMac’s stand mirrors the design of Braun speakers. Rams himself has praised Apple, stating they are one of the few companies today following his principles to the letter. Why It Matters Now