DesignApplause | Dieter rams. 10 design principles.

Nov 5, 2009

Dieter rams. 10 design principles.

good design is as little design as possible

Dieter Rams (born May 20, 1932 in Wiesbaden) is a German industrial designer closely associated with the consumer products company Braun and the Functionalist school of industrial design.

In 1993 I asked Dieter to speak to the Architecture & Design Society at the Art Institute of Chicago. The society recently had a name change: “design” had been added. We joked ( ahem ) at the time that the real estate economy was so bad that the Architecture Society needed new members. We needed a credible and passionate design icon to speak to this group. Dieter became the first designer to speak under the society’s new name.

What I remember that night and again recently while watching the Objectified movie was Dieter’s 10 design principles. Honestly, I can’t tell you for sure that these are the same principles. Hoping Dieter will set the story straight.

I think I like the earlier stuff better. Maybe it was the materials or maybe it was so different than the pack at the time. The first Braun product I remember making a design connect to me was an electric razor. Much of Dieter’s work has long seemed more connected to brutalism than minimalism. Let’s say beautifully, brutally, minimal.

* Good design is innovative
* Good design makes a product useful
* Good design is aesthetic
* Good design helps us 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 the environment
* Good design is as little design as possible

resources:
vitsoe
designmuseum
gizmodo
victoria and albert museum
dieter rams flickr
braun flickr
37 signals
tendesignprinciples
new: a bit late

110 comments ↓

#1 Tweets that mention DesignApplause | Dieter rams. 10 design principles. -- Topsy.com on 11.05.09 at 7:46 am

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by DesignApplause, Catalin David. Catalin David said: RT good design is as little design as possible http://bit.ly/1pu1F9 via @DesignApplause [...]

#2 uberVU - social comments 174.129.104.191 not found on 11.05.09 at 6:44 pm

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by DesignApplause: Dieter rams. 10 design principles.: good design is as little design as possible http://bit.ly/1pu1F9…

#3 Luke Dorny on 11.06.09 at 12:32 am

Excellent.

Also, your Social Comments & Analytics links use horizontal ellipses which break the links. See above. Thought you should know.

#4 adaptive path » blog » Peter Merholz » Signposts for the Week Ending November 6, 2009 on 11.06.09 at 11:47 pm

[...] Rams’ 10 design principles. Follow them and you, too, can make spare white [...]

#5 Eismann-SF News on 11.10.09 at 11:28 am

[...] was recently reminded of these. It’s good to always keep them in [...]

#6 PRand on 11.14.09 at 5:11 pm

i found another dieter rams story you might enjoy. you will find the link below the photos under “resources” labeled “new: a bit late”

#7 Planner Reads » Blog Archive » The Lazy Designer’s Guide to Success 67.205.45.170 not found on 11.18.09 at 10:12 am

[...] funny, true and correct. And because it reinforces what I've thought for a long time and what Dietar Rams said once, "Good design is as little design as [...]

#8 Davidsign not found on 11.05.09 at 7:44 am

RT good design is as little design as possible http://bit.ly/1pu1F9 via @DesignApplause

This comment was originally posted on Twitter

#9 kirstensibilia not found on 11.05.09 at 9:28 am

RT Dieter rams. 10 design principles.: good design is as little design as possible http://bit.ly/1pu1F9 (via @DesignApplause)

#10 sophistry1 not found on 11.05.09 at 6:37 pm

RT @DesignApplause: Dieter rams. 10 design principles.: good design is as little design as possible http://bit.ly/1pu1F9

#11 KatrinLoss not found on 11.06.09 at 1:07 am

Dieter Rams. 10 design principles: “good design is as little design as possible” http://bit.ly/1pu1F9

#12 fecsx not found on 11.06.09 at 2:10 am

10 brutally minimal design principles from dieter rams http://bit.ly/1XkBN2 sweet photo as well via @designapplause #inddes #design #ux

#13 DeboraGallo not found on 11.06.09 at 2:40 am

Dieter rams. 10 design principles. – http://bit.ly/BlWPk – ‘Good design is consequent to the last detail’ – nice !

#14 floatr not found on 11.06.09 at 2:44 am

Good designed is concerned with the environment. RT @DesignObserver: OBSERVED: 10 Design Principles of Dieter Rams http://bit.ly/1jJOlI

#15 Szugger not found on 11.06.09 at 3:14 am

RT @DesignApplause Dieter rams. 10 design principles. http://is.gd/4NAiO

#16 LozinskiArch not found on 11.06.09 at 7:15 am

Dieter rams. 10 design principles. – http://bit.ly/4kEare

#17 ikoni not found on 11.06.09 at 7:15 am

Dieter rams. 10 design principles – http://bit.ly/4kEare

#18 pennymonger not found on 11.06.09 at 8:17 am

Dieter Rams’ 10 design principles http://bit.ly/1CK6Cs

#19 StudioGrafiko not found on 11.06.09 at 8:26 am

RT @DesignObserver @DesignApplause “Good design is as little design as possible” Dieter Rams – Love that! http://bit.ly/4cMgck

#20 Theispot not found on 11.06.09 at 11:16 am

Dieter Rams. 10 design principles. http://bit.ly/2zQhsA

#21 suvetstudio not found on 11.06.09 at 11:17 am

Dieter Rams. 10 design principles. http://bit.ly/2zQhsA {rt @Theispot}

#22 robjbradley not found on 11.06.09 at 1:37 pm

RT @suvetstudio: Dieter Rams. 10 design principles. http://bit.ly/2zQhsA {rt @Theispot}

#23 jwolfworks not found on 11.06.09 at 4:37 pm

“Good design is consequent to the last detail” from Dieter Rams. 10 design principles http://bit.ly/1XkBN2

#24 nlamontagne not found on 11.06.09 at 7:55 pm

RT @DesignApplause Dieter rams. 10 design principles. http://is.gd/4NAiO. For me, I replace design with planning and product with cities.

#25 Armano not found on 11.07.09 at 1:49 pm

what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm

#26 davidjdeal not found on 11.07.09 at 1:50 pm

RT @Armano what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm

#27 JeffSays not found on 11.07.09 at 1:50 pm

RT @Armano

#28 cammicam not found on 11.07.09 at 1:50 pm

RT @Armano: what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm

#29 eduardoortiz not found on 11.07.09 at 1:50 pm

#30 KammieK not found on 11.07.09 at 1:51 pm

#31 j4ngis not found on 11.07.09 at 1:51 pm

#32 brianjeremy not found on 11.07.09 at 1:52 pm

What is design? 10 principles. Simple and Clear: http://twurl.nl/46q5hm (via @davidjdeal @Armano)

#33 BenTremblay not found on 11.07.09 at 1:53 pm

#34 patrizio not found on 11.07.09 at 1:55 pm

#35 mccasal not found on 11.07.09 at 1:56 pm

what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm (via @Armano)

#36 Jack_Hadley not found on 11.07.09 at 1:59 pm

great design article RT @Armano what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm

#37 kreaWERFT not found on 11.07.09 at 2:02 pm

RT: @j4ngis & @Armano: what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm

#38 sachendra not found on 11.07.09 at 2:04 pm

#39 Razorfish not found on 11.07.09 at 2:09 pm

#40 razorfish not found on 11.07.09 at 2:10 pm

RT @Armano: what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm @~davidjdeal

#41 Guilhes not found on 11.07.09 at 2:10 pm

#42 hazeliz not found on 11.07.09 at 2:12 pm

Honest, I love this angle! #design RT @Razorfish: RT @Armano: what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm

#43 crowdSPRING not found on 11.07.09 at 2:20 pm

What is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm (via @Armano)

#44 wkmyrhang not found on 11.07.09 at 2:27 pm

Design Basics – RT @Armano: what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm #design

#45 Denkbeeldhouwer not found on 11.07.09 at 2:29 pm

#WOWfactor10 #denkbeeld RT @patrizio: RT @Armano: what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm

#46 timstock not found on 11.07.09 at 2:42 pm

RT @Razorfish
RT @Armano: what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm @~davidjdeal

#47 benedictsteele not found on 11.07.09 at 2:46 pm

RT @brianjeremy: What is design? 10 principles. Simple and Clear: http://twurl.nl/46q5hm (via @davidjdeal @Armano)

#48 ADDMARKETING not found on 11.07.09 at 2:51 pm

#49 aculp324 not found on 11.07.09 at 2:51 pm

#50 PatriciaLabelle not found on 11.07.09 at 2:55 pm

Love the clock & Calendar @Armano what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm

#51 hartmanea not found on 11.07.09 at 3:50 pm

nice simple check list to remember, apply to any product RT @Armano: what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm

#52 creativlee not found on 11.07.09 at 4:03 pm

good design is as little design as possible http://bit.ly/4kEare

#53 mcf not found on 11.07.09 at 6:18 pm

Dieter rams. 10 design principles. http://bit.ly/4kEare

#54 AGonzalezAquino not found on 11.07.09 at 6:40 pm

RT @crowdSPRING: What is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm (via @Armano). Very good article

#55 dettywulandari not found on 11.07.09 at 9:26 pm

“Good design is as little design as possible”– Dieter Rams. 10 Design Principles. http://bit.ly/1TbW6D (via @davidjdeal)

#56 Cplanner not found on 11.07.09 at 10:43 pm

RT @timstock: RT @Razorfish RT @Armano: what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm

#57 jagtianinikhil not found on 11.08.09 at 12:18 am

RT @Armano @Razorfish
: what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm @~davidjdeal

#58 raesmaa not found on 11.08.09 at 4:12 am

Dieter rams. 10 design principles http://bit.ly/2wm2of

#59 DavidsStebelis not found on 11.08.09 at 7:58 am

Minimālisms : good design is as little design as possible : http://bit.ly/4kEare

#60 a_odea not found on 11.08.09 at 12:19 pm

Dieter rams. 10 design principles. | http://bit.ly/1pu1F9 (via @DesignApplause)

#61 kim not found on 11.08.09 at 1:53 pm

What is design? 10 principles. Simple and Clear: http://twurl.nl/46q5hm rt @davidjdeal @Armano @brianjeremy (Last item = my fave!!)

#62 irenelson not found on 11.08.09 at 1:55 pm

“Good design is as little design as possible.” RT @kim: 10 design principles. http://twurl.nl/46q5hm rt @davidjdeal @Armano @brianjeremy

#63 angel189 not found on 11.08.09 at 1:56 pm

#64 otterstein not found on 11.08.09 at 1:57 pm

RT @kim

What is design? 10 principles. Simple and Clear: http://twurl.nl/46q5hm

#65 arkarthick not found on 11.08.09 at 1:59 pm

RT @kim: What is design? 10 principles. Simple and Clear: http://twurl.nl/46q5hm rt @davidjdeal @Armano @brianjeremy

#66 Felix_Molina not found on 11.08.09 at 2:00 pm

RT @kim: What is design? 10 principles. Simple and Clear: http://twurl.nl/46q5hm rt @davidjdeal @Armano @brianjeremy (Last item = my fave!!)

#67 sierraf31 not found on 11.08.09 at 2:07 pm

RT: @kim: What is design? 10 principles.Simple and Clear: http://twurl.nl/46q5hm rt @davidjdeal @Armano @brianjeremy (Last item = my fave!!)

#68 mktmag not found on 11.08.09 at 2:07 pm

RT @arkarthick: RT @kim: What is design? 10 principles. Simple and Clear: http://twurl.nl/46q5hm rt @davidjdeal @Armano @brianjeremy

#69 impe83 not found on 11.08.09 at 2:08 pm

RT @kim What is design? 10 principles. Simple and Clear: http://twurl.nl/46q5hm rt @davidjdeal @Armano @brianjeremy (Last item = my fave!!)

#70 tahneeperry not found on 11.08.09 at 2:55 pm

RT @razorfish: RT @Armano: what is design? 10 principles. simple and clear http://twurl.nl/46q5hm @~davidjdeal

#71 geoego not found on 11.08.09 at 3:14 pm

#72 FLHH not found on 11.08.09 at 3:56 pm

Dieter rams. 10 design principles. http://bit.ly/rams10 #design #principles #standards

#73 SAlhir not found on 11.08.09 at 5:36 pm

RT @geoego: RT @kim: What is design? 10 principles. Simple and Clear: http://twurl.nl/46q5hm rt @davidjdeal @Armano @brianjeremy

#74 productionglue not found on 11.09.09 at 10:35 am

#75 erictetuan not found on 11.09.09 at 10:35 am

#76 alex_osman not found on 11.09.09 at 10:44 am

Dieter rams. 10 design principles: http://bit.ly/49462b

#77 the99percent not found on 11.11.09 at 11:19 am

File under classics: 10 design principles from Dieter Rams: http://bit.ly/2NE0He (via @designobserver)

#78 cgooddesign not found on 11.11.09 at 11:41 am

Good design is as little design as possible RT @the99percent: 10 design principles from Dieter Rams: http://bit.ly/2NE0He

#79 xavieralexandre not found on 11.11.09 at 11:47 am

Braun used to rule : Dieter rams. 10 design principles. – http://ping.fm/zH8re via http://ping.fm/J4rar

#80 jfproulx not found on 11.11.09 at 12:24 pm

RT @the99percent: File under classics: 10 design principles from Dieter Rams: http://bit.ly/2NE0He (via @designobserver)

#81 HyperfocusNYC not found on 11.11.09 at 12:26 pm

10 design principles http://bit.ly/49462b

#82 aigakc not found on 11.11.09 at 12:40 pm

Refreshingly simple…Legendary designer Dieter Rams’s 10 Design Principles http://ow.ly/BcOF

#83 paul_cawley not found on 11.11.09 at 12:41 pm

#84 spurdave not found on 11.11.09 at 12:44 pm

Nice: RT @aigakc: Refreshingly simple…Legendary designer Dieter Rams’s 10 Design Principles http://ow.ly/BcOF

#85 derooted not found on 11.11.09 at 12:48 pm

#86 sebastianalos not found on 11.11.09 at 1:01 pm

Dieter Rams. Los 10 principios de diseño: http://bit.ly/2wm2of @HOLASC @11clavos

#87 daniortega not found on 11.11.09 at 1:02 pm

RT @sebastianalos: Dieter Rams. Los 10 principios de diseño: http://bit.ly/2wm2of @HOLASC @11clavos

#88 mmcgovern not found on 11.11.09 at 1:59 pm

dieter rams. 10 #design principles http://bit.ly/2wm2of

#89 aigaraleigh not found on 11.11.09 at 2:02 pm

Refreshingly simple… Legendary designer Dieter Rams’s 10 Design Principles http://ow.ly/BcOF (via @aigakc)

#90 beingwicked not found on 11.11.09 at 2:02 pm

love this list via @mmcgovern: dieter rams. 10 #design principles http://bit.ly/2wm2of

#91 lisamikulski not found on 11.11.09 at 2:05 pm

Refreshingly simple… Legendary designer Dieter Rams’s 10 Design Principles http://ow.ly/BcOF (via @aigakc @aigaraleigh)

#92 amirebrahimnia not found on 11.11.09 at 3:16 pm

RT @derooted: RT @the99percent: File under classics: 10 design principles from Dieter Rams: http://bit.ly/2NE0He (via @designobserver) #

#93 gerarddolan not found on 11.11.09 at 5:05 pm

Dieter rams. 10 design principles: http://bit.ly/2wm2of

#94 chinyong not found on 11.11.09 at 7:47 pm

10 design principles. http://bit.ly/4kEare

#95 wealthpathfindr not found on 11.11.09 at 7:57 pm

RT @the99percent: Dieter Rams. 10 Design Principles. – File under classics: Dieter Rams’ design manifesto (via @des… http://ow.ly/1615fF

#96 packism not found on 11.11.09 at 7:57 pm

RT @the99percent: Dieter Rams. 10 Design Principles. – File under classics: Dieter Rams’ design manifesto (via @des… http://ow.ly/1615fE

#97 chapulincubano not found on 11.13.09 at 1:08 am

10 principios del diseño por Dieter Rams. http://bit.ly/1XWWAU

#98 stuartbrighton not found on 11.13.09 at 3:47 am

#99 svetsotirov not found on 11.13.09 at 4:12 am

Dieter Ram’s. 10 Design Principles http://bit.ly/1XkBN2

#100 jimmyWHAT not found on 11.13.09 at 11:07 am

Dieter rams. 10 design principles http://bit.ly/1pu1F9 — 91 RTs so far. see who you are. must be good! RT @DesignApplause

#101 Rusay not found on 11.13.09 at 12:11 pm

RT @DesignApplause Dieter rams. 10 design principles http://bit.ly/1pu1F9 — 91 RTs so far.

#102 77A not found on 11.13.09 at 12:53 pm

Dieter Rams. 10 design principles: good design is as little design as possible http://bit.ly/1pu1F9 RT @DesignApplause http://bit.ly/apopt

#103 dokumentacion not found on 11.13.09 at 2:13 pm

Dieter rams. 10 design principles http://bit.ly/1pu1F9 — 91 RTs so far. see who you are. must be good!

#104 PixelsAndInk not found on 11.13.09 at 5:14 pm

Dieter Rams’ 10 (very modernist) design principles: http://bit.ly/2wm2of

#105 miguel_sp not found on 11.15.09 at 5:30 am

#Design | Dieter Rams: 10 design principles http://ow.ly/Cl9x.

#106 you_n_nah not found on 11.15.09 at 8:32 pm

Good design is as little design as possible… 10 design principles of Dieter Rams http://bit.ly/49462b

#107 pkeck not found on 11.16.09 at 2:44 pm

Indeed, always worth revisiting. Good ol’ Dieter:
http://tinyurl.com/yecgegb

#108 Adam not found on 11.18.09 at 9:10 am

That guy talks utter sense.

This comment was originally posted on Noisy Decent Graphics

#109 Simon not found on 11.18.09 at 11:40 am

Yep, read the article and watched his talk. Michael Bierut always has something insightful to say.

#110 avantgraph not found on 11.21.09 at 3:43 am

Dieter rams. 10 design principles. – http://designapplause.com/2009/dieter-rams-10-design-principles/6791/

Alas, yes we moderate comments. Please proceed to add value.

Dieter rams. 10 design principles.

110 comments ↓

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