Admire the whole works of Dieter Rams
Dieter Rams: The Complete Works takes readers back to the beginning of the designer's career and his earliest surviving work – a sketch of a Z-shaped chair drawn by Rams in 1947 (a scale model wasn't made until 1952). From there, the book traces the development of the designer's career, from portable radios and pieces of furniture to the iconic Braun and Vitsoe pieces for which he is known and loved.
Each design is accompanied by a brief description that looks at the backstory of the piece as well as the materials used. The chronological order allows readers to see the gradual emergence of Rams' distinctive minimalist approach – which has had a huge impact on designers and creatives of all kinds, not least Apple's Jonathan Ive.
Rams wrote an introduction to the book that delves a little deeper into his own design philosophy. “Design is not just about the formal design of our world of things, our 'world of things', but rather it determines the life of each individual and how we all live together,” he writes.
Picture above: HLD 6, 1971, Fön, Jürgen Greubel, Dieter Rams, Braun; Above: Dieter Rams: The Complete Works, Klaus Kemp, Phaidon; T 3, 1958, pocket radio, Dieter Rams, HfG Ulm, Braun
Mono-radio-phono combination, Dieter Rams, Hans Gugelot, Gerd A. Müller, Wagenfeld workshop: Ralph Michel, Helmut Warneke, Heinz G. Pfaender, Braun;
HLD 4, 1970, travel hairdryer, Dieter Rams, Braun
The essay questions the potentially harmful influence of design and the responsibility of designers. Rams encourages designers to ask themselves tough questions about whether the product they are developing is necessary, and whether it will make life better or just increase status.
He writes: “Can it be repaired? Is it long lasting? Easy to use and flexible to use? Can I easily master it or does the new product dominate me? I find this last question particularly relevant today. The most important lesson I've learned in my 60 years as a designer and through my experience with companies and end users is simply: "Less, but better".
There are many more pearls of wisdom in its introduction that are a timely response to current discussions about waste and sustainability. And for those who want to delve further into Ram's career, there is also an essay by art historian Klaus Klemp examining the designer's influence.
Dieter Rams: The Complete Works, Klaus Kemp, Phaidon; 606 Universal Shelving System, (RZ 60), 1960, shelf program, Dieter Rams, Vitsoe + Zapf / sdr + / De Padova / Vitsoe
All product photographs: Andreas Kugel, © Copyright Dieter Rams Archive
Dieter Rams: The Complete Works is published by Phaidon at a price of £ 39.95. phaidon.com