Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams details the "less, but better" philosophy of the renowned industrial designer, emphasizing unobtrusive and functional design. The work features 10 core principles for good design, covering aspects from innovation to environmental sustainability, and serves as a comprehensive collection of Rams's iconic work for Braun and Vitsœ. The book can be explored further on Gestalten.
Between 1955 and 1995, Rams and his team at Braun produced objects that still define “good design” today.
He picked up a scalpel and meticulously lifted the chrome strip away. The radio was now just a box of matte grey functionalism. It was quiet. It was humble. It was perfect.
Rams' design philosophy, famously distilled into his "Ten Commandments of Good Design," became the guiding principles for his work at Braun. These commandments, still widely studied and revered today, emphasize the importance of:
As the sun set over the Frankfurt skyline, Dieter began to write. He wasn't writing a manifesto for fame, but a set of commandments for a world drowning in "visual pollution." He wrote about usefulness, about endurance, and about the environment. He wrote that a designer’s success is measured by how much they can take away before a product loses its soul.