Dieter Rams and the Design Journey

Elif Uluca

Born in Germany in 1932, Rams decided to study architecture under the influence of his carpenter grandfather and the rebuilding of Germany after the war. In 1953, after graduating from the architecture department of the Wiesbaden School of Art, he started working as an architect for a firm called Otto Apel. The turning point in Dieter Rams' life was when he had hired by Erwin and Arthur Braun to modernize the interior design of the Braun firm after the death of their father. In 1955, when he joined the Braun brand as an architect and interior designer, he took the step that would shape the design world. Undoubtedly, one of the designer's great chances is that Otl Aicher and Hans Gugelot gave the company a new and modern corporate identity just before Rams joined Braun. This step towards modernization is exactly what Dieter Rams wanted to do, and Rams soon became involved in the company's design process. In 1956 he made a name for himself by adding a transparent Plexi cover to the phonogram design. And he became the head of the company's design department in 1961, a position he held until 1995.

_{Braun SK 4 radiogram, 1956, Hans Gugelot and Dieter Rams}

In addition to working with Braun, he began designing furniture for Vitsœ in 1959, a collaboration that continues today. The designer Dieter Rams, whose name is associated with both companies, has also contributed to design and new designers as an academic.

_{Sketch for Vitsœ, 1955, Dieter Rams}

Rams, whose perspective on design is 'less is more,' believes that design should always serve the user. Braun products became a part of homes in the 60s with clean, clear, and simple aesthetics of their designs.

Dieter Rams believe that designers should work together as a team and that the way to a more humane future is through innovative design. Dieter Rams believe that designers should serve a common purpose in cooperation rather than trying to eliminate their competitors from the race. With the idea that designers are the critics of civilization, society, and technology, he recommends that designers unite with all their strengths and transform their innovative dreams into 3D products.

_{Dieter Rams' radio, which took 18 weeks to decide where to place its buttons.}

Despite all these years in the design world is still really committed to the principles of design he can be criticized for putting the design into certain molds. Yet many of his principles are accepted by many successful companies like Apple. In my opinion, Dieter Rams are one of the rare designers who has managed to be a timeless designer because of the traces he left on other designs. His minimalist and simple design approach are one of the most important reasons for this. With little varied, Apple's designs can even be thought of as Dieter Rams' products for Braun.

               _{T3 pocket radio, Dieter Rams                                   Apple İpod}

A short video for those who want to hear Dieter Rams in his own words:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epEWrycjNXc