In 1978 Braun issued the digital DW30 watch with a groundbreaking style departure designed by Dieter Rams and Dietrich Lubs. Retired in 1981, only 8,500 were made (4,500 first…
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While doing some Vienna vintage shopping we recently came across the Braun 308 turntable, a harmless discovery that led to a maddening online search for iconic designs by Dieter Rams once home. After clicking from one corner of the internet to another we were introduced to Das Programm, a…
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Endlessly quoted by designers and educators, Dieter Rams’ Ten Principles of Good Design has remained a benchmark for creative thinking since the legendary designer released the proclamation in the early ’80s. In an homage to the list of sound advice, London-based studio Bibliothéque—who also helmed the design for the…
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Dieter Rams’ “10 Principles” forecast the weather in a new iPhone app
Taking a cue from Dieter Rams’ legendary “10 Principles of Good Design“, Miami-based designer David Elgena recently created a beautifully simple weather app. The aptly titled WTHR iPhone app may not be the most innovative with its ultra simple interface, but it certainly looks to a few other principles—namely good design is aesthetic, useful, unobtrusive and understandable.
Using little more than simple line art icons, the app tells you the current weather and the upcoming five-day forecast. Frequent travelers will also find the Fahrenheit to Celsius toggle button advantageous, which was also modeled after the streamlined switches Rams used on his products for Braun, like the TP 1 radio.
WTHR is available for download from iTunes for $1.
via Cult of Mac
A showdown of heritage alarm clocks
This past year saw the relaunch of a slew of throw-back designs to the so-called golden age of Braun. Joining the analog clocks and minimal wristwatches is a line of digital clocks inspired by the clean look favored by designers Dietrich Lubs and Dieter Rams. Seen side-by-side, both the analog and digital options are enviable design objects, but we imagine two camps must form around the digital and the analog.
Sizing up the two lines, there’s a lot of crossover: both are controlled by radio signal available in select countries; both feature a crescendo alarm and a snooze function; both are designed to be easily read; both light up in the dark. In short, they have all the specs you might expect from a classically reliable alarm clock.
The digital line features a quick-set function and a crisp reverse LCD readout. The radio model—not available in analog—also includes a speaker and six presets for a standard alarm-clock setup. On the analog side, the classic alarm has been updated with a voice-activated snooze feature for groaning sleepers. While the digital models do their best to imitate the original designs, there’s something gimmicky about an alarm clock that is made to look “vintage”. The analog models have a more honest heritage appeal, and the readout the only major difference. Points would be given to digital for ease of use, although the spare face of the analog clock isn’t exactly difficult to read.
At the end of the day, it’s a matter of personal taste. While the new digital clocks may be milking the last ounce of cool out of the Rams and Lubs heritage, we’re still won over by the sleek look, which was developed under the direction of Markus Orthey. For fans of the old-school vibe, it makes a bit more sense to search around for the original and iconic AB1 alarm clock, which can be found around the web in limited stock. We’re not sure why Braun opted not to recreate a perfect facsimile of the original with the new analogs; it seems like authenticity would trump voice-controlled snooze any day.
Whichever way you swing, both the digital and analog models look great on a nightstand—which, after all, is what you’re really after.
Asia’s first-ever homage to Dieter Rams’ core beliefs by ten graphic designers
Commandments as legendary as the man who created them, Dieter Rams’ ten principles of “good design” provide an essential guide for any creative seeking to produce high-quality work. In an effort to visualize the enduring concepts beyond the many products inspired by them, Singapore-based studio Anonymous asked ten graphic designers each to transform one of the tenets into an expressive poster, interpreting the fundamentals of Rams’ thoughts on design, from minimalism to innovation, in one concise collection.
Dubbed “plusminusten,” the exhibition itself embodies Rams’ philosophy on effective design, with a simple presentation that makes its purpose clear. The clean aesthetic creates an attractive space with an unobtrusive ambiance that allows visitors to contemplate the works without a forced point of view. Curator Felix Ng also emphasizes the principle that “good design is thorough, down to the last detail” by tapping Singapore’s cult music producer Nick Chan (the brains behind experimental group Muon) to create a soundtrack purposely for the exhibition.
Much homage has been paid to the industrial designer’s seminal set of beliefs, such as Bibliotheque‘s poster for Vitsoe or Inksie‘s essay project, but the Anonymous-led exhibition is the first-ever tribute in Asia. Included in the momentous display are graphic designers Edwin Tan, Abdul Basit Khan, Aen Tan, B.A.L.L.S., Daniel Koh, Hanson Ho
Jonathan Yuen, Larry Peh, Roy Poh and Yong, who each offer a distinct perspective on what it means to be true to his craft.
“Plusminusten” is on view at The Gallery (Old School) from the 11-24 November 2011, where you can snag one of 50 lithographic prints or 250 box sets.
Photographs by Caleb Ming
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