DIETER RAMS | WEEKLY WANTS
Updated: Aug 21, 2020
GOOD DESIGN
When I first learned about the 10 Principles for Good Design I knew that Dieter Rams was a wise man with words to design by. Just as the reflecting designer did in the 1980s, I find myself continuously asking an important question: is my design good design? To answer this question Rams developed 10 Principles for Good Design. When I am developing my designs for my clients I am constantly challenging myself to meet these ethics. Here at the Delve blog I want to translate these principles into products that embody these principles.
1 GOOD DESIGN IS INNOVATIVE
The possibilities for innovation are not, by any means, exhausted. Technological development is always offering new opportunities for innovative design. But innovative design always develops in tandem with innovative technology, and can never be an end in itself.
NEST – There are some products that seem to have never evolved from their original state. Smoke detectors being one of them; it senses smoke it beeps, and that’s the end of its duty. The Nest Protector is a smoke and carbon monoxide detector for the 21st century. It talks to you in a human voice to relay emergencies, telling you what and where is going on. My favorite part is that it works on wifi to send a messages to your phone. So if your not home and your pups (or kids) are, you can get help and get home ASAP!
2 GOOD DESIGN MAKES A PRODUCT USEFUL
A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy certain criteria, not only functional, but also psychological and aesthetic. Good design emphasizes the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.
We LOVE our cast iron skillet. My favorite think about them it that they can go from the stove top to the oven. One of the first gifts Zac gave me was the 13" with a lid and 5 years later we still use it every day. It has great heat distribution and retention & it looks beautiful sitting on top of any stove.
3 GOOD DESIGN IS AESTHETIC
The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products we use every day affect our person and our well-being. But only well-executed objects can be beautiful.
I love what this company stands for: beautiful eye ware, at good prices, and you can try them on at home. The best part? Their buy a pair give a pair policy. They've distributed over a million pairs of glasses to people in need. Feel good / Do good
I've had the same pair of Warby's for over 5 years and I'm probably (ok definitely) due for a new pair but guys, they last that long!
4 GOOD DESIGN MAKES A PRODUCT UNDERSTANDABLE
It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory.
A tea mug that holds your bag in place. Sounds good, looks good and has evident purpose.
5 GOOD DESIGN IS UNOBTRUSIVE
Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression.
Have you heard of these yet? One big challenge we always face is placing a TV in the room without it holding to much focal point power. Problem solved! Samsung's Frame TV looks just as it sounds - like a beautiful piece of framed art on the wall it comes with a no gap app mount and frame. The power consumption in Art Mode is roughly about 30% of TV Mode depending on the image.
The TV we have now is about about 8+ years old - its not even HD and it doesn't mount on the wall. I'm tackling our living room next in our house (after I finish the bathroom & trim) and I'm thinking of upgrading to this TV. Just deciding between the 32" and 43".
6 GOOD DESIGN IS HONEST
It does not make a product more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.
Jessica Alba started this company to provide effective, safe, eco-friendly and affordable household, beauty, body and baby products. Dieter Rams isn't the only one with principals. They have 'The Honest Standard' as their 6 step process for qualifying their products.
7 GOOD DESIGN IS LONG LASTING
It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even in today’s throwaway society.
These are so charming and timeless! I love the styling of this image by Karen Emile of Milk and Honey Life.
8 GOOD DESIGN IS THOROUGH DOWN TO THE LAST DETAIL
Nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the user.
Whoever thought I would be here writing about a vacuum? Who ever thought a vacuum would become a trend? Yet here we are - the Dyson.
9 GOOD DESIGN IS ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY
Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimizes physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.
In addition to this hat being super cute, what the brand stands for is draws me in. For every item sold they plant, you guessed it, 10 trees. They've planted 45,276,558 to date! Beyond just planing trees they are advocates for sustainability, plus their clothes are comfortable and accessible.
10 GOOD DESIGN IS AS LITTLE DESIGN AS POSSIBLE
Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.
This lounge was designed to fit the form of the human body and hold it in its ideallist position for comfort
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