Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams

Now available again, this is the definitive

reference book on the work of Dieter

Rams. In his more than 40 years at Braun,

Rams established himself as one of the most

influential designers of the twentieth century.

True to the principle of "less, but better,"

his elegantly clear visual language not

only defined product design for generations,

but also our fundamental understanding of

what design is and what it can and should

do. Less and More offers boundless inspiration

for anyone interested in the aesthetic

and functional aspects of applied design.

This book elucidates the philosophy of

Dieter Rams that is best summed up in the

ten rules of design that he created more

than thirty years ago. Sometimes referred

to as "the ten commandments," they are

just as relevant today: Good design is innovative.

Good design makes a product useful.

Good design is aesthetic. Good design

helps a product to be understood. Good

design is unobtrusive. Good design is honest.

Good design is durable. Good design is

consistent to the last detail. Good design

is environmentally friendly. Good design is

as little design as possible.

Less and More features images of hundreds

of Rams’s products as well as his

sketches and models —from Braun stereo

systems and electric shavers to the chairs

and shelving systems that he created for

Vitsoe. In addition to the rich visual presentation

of his designs, the book contains

texts by international design experts that

explain how the work was created, describe

its timeless quality, and put it into a contemporary

context.