Less but Better / Weniger, aber besser

by Dieter Rams

The new edition of the benchmark work originally published by the Dieter and Ingeborg Rams Foundation and Jo Klatt. Few product designs have the staying power of creations by Dieter Rams. Almost everything produced by one of the most influential designers of the twentieth century is today considered a classic. This new and revised edition of Less but Better shows once again why Dieter Rams’s approach to design will be relevant for the foreseeable future Ideas of what can and must be achieved by good design are in a constant state of flux as a result of cultural and technological developments. Dieter Rams, however, came up with ten principles that advocate for a purist, almost imperceptible design. These principles are still considered timeless fundaments of design theory and practice 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 but Better does not set out to be a complete documentation of Dieter Rams’s body of work, nor does it claim to tell the full story of the company Braun. Rather, the book explores the ideas, criteria, and methods behind Rams’s creations and reveals how a shifting culture of product manufacturing gave rise to universal design benchmarks. From his reflections on design ethics and values we can distill a clear paradigm for future design ―because one principle has remained firm over the less is simply better.

Genres: Design, Art, Nonfiction, History

154 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1995

Reviews

[Vũ Mập · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the design philosophy of one of the greatest designers of our time. Through the lens of Braun, a company that has left an indelible mark on the design world, Rams expertly guides readers through the history, process, and most impactful products of the company.

But this book is not just an advertisement for Braun; it is a masterclass in design philosophy, one that illustrates how a strong system, shared values, and a commitment to innovation are essential to creating truly impactful designs.

Rams also provides a forward-looking perspective on the future of design, emphasizing the crucial role of sustainable design in shaping our world. I found this book to be both inspiring and thought-provoking, and I will be adding it to my annual reading list. If you're interested in design and its impact on the world, this book is a must-read.

[Enzo Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

la vida es una lenteja

[Jan Erik · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is very clearly a "throw open and read a few passages" kind of book. The photos are black and white, which kind of works based on the design ethos, but I expected colour to be honest. Already on page 4, there's a typo ("thankyou") and it's occasionally difficult to understand which piece of text corresponds to which photo. Also, I don't know if it's due to the book being "optimized for print", but in many cases, it's confusing as to where one story ends and another begins due to the way that headlines are placed. This could also be because German and English are printed next to each other, but it bothered me a little bit anyway.

Don't get me wrong, I really liked the book and it'll be a mainstay on my bookshelf for occasional inspiration, but my expectations were way too high. For me, there was value in reading the book from start to finish, but others' mileage may vary.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I once said that my aim is to leave out everything superfluous in order to allow the essential to come through.”

Rams was a pioneer in the simplicity in design in the 1950s; he was the brains behind Braun’s cutting edge elegant designs. He defines design as the shaping of things that we live with and the shaping of our environment.

The first few chapters reads like corporate propaganda and marketing for Braun. The later chapters are gems where he shares his design philosophy and his thinking process behind making mechanical engineering feats beautiful

Key tenants of his design philosophy are:
- design should be ethical and moral; it should be harmony with our economics and ecology.
- design should be valuable, make contributions to humanity’s overall survival and make our lives richer in a more human sense.
- design should be useful, functional and practical.
- design should bring peace and calm to allow people to return to themselves; contrastingly, to not draw attention to itself or evoke strong emotions.

He criticizes modern design and the “purchase stimulation” aesthetic as a fuel for destructive product waste, and urges the current generation to support a more conservative long-term use of products.

It is also beautiful to see his personal growth and beliefs manifested in his designs as he experiences dictatorship, war and destruction in the 1950s to freedom, liberation and optimism in his later years. The designs of Braun’s household appliances were more sterile and sparse as compared to the furniture he designed in his later years, which were more gentle and malleable.

[Lee Penney · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you have an interest in design you’ve likely heard of Dieter Rams. You’ve likely encountered some of the products he or his team have had a hand in regardless of whether you know the name — because he was a big part of the design team at Braun for many years.

I love many of the products they designed, from clocks to shavers to kitchen utensils. It’s a shame so few are still available.

This book is both a visual showcase, with many photos of products, but also some thoughts on design, his history at Braun and Ram’s experiences.

First published in 1995, this is the seventh edition. Which makes the numerous typos that remain quite shocking. Perhaps that’s because this is in both English and German.

The photos are generally good, though I’d have liked more breakdown for many of the products. The sections are nicely ordered, but they’re poorly organised, especially when it comes to the quotes about the images, which often left me scouring the page and guessing at what they related to.

As a book to flick through it would be fine, but for the price it needs to offer a lot more. This is less, but definitely not better.

[Thomas Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very detailed documentation of both ideas and learning from Dieter Rams' design practice!

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great not just for the history and catalog of iconic designs (which have held up astoundingly well), but also for Rams's whole philosophy!

[gee k · Rating 5 out of 5]

great exposition of Dieter Rams design approach. German and English side by side

[Claudia Yahany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Está por demás decir que es una clasesota de diseño: las imágenes, las descripciones, la historia. La dosis necesaria para cerrar el año recordando los principios fundamentales del .
5 estrellas por inspirador.