Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams, 2010 [Gestalten]

Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams edited by Keiko Ueki-Polet and Klaus Klemp, 1st English and German ed., 2010 [not the later 2015 reprint]. Die Gestalten Verlag, Germany. 7.5 x 9, with 808 pages, 320 illustrations and a PVC softcover in a cardboard slipcase.

The exhibition Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams was initiated and developed by Suntory Museum, Osaka and Fuchu Art Museum, Tokyo in 2008/9. This volume was published in conjunction with the exhibition of the same name held at the Design Museum, London from November 18, 2009 to March 7, 2010 and the Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Frankfurt am Main from May 23 to September 5, 2010.

The significance of Dieter Rams, the celebrated designer for Braun, continues to be central to modern design discourse. True to his principle of “less but better” his disciplined visual vocabulary and design language not only defined product design for generations, but also acts as our fundamental understanding of what design is, what it can be and what it should do.

With (19) essays, this book explores Dieter Rams’s life, the ideas that shaped his work, his designs for both Braun and Vitsœ and his role as a leading voice for good design. Heavily illustrated with sketches, product photos, prototypes, rare archival material and photographs of his home. With a Preliminary Note, an Exhibition List of Products and a Selected [yet comprehensive] Bibliography.

A nearly fine, unread book with a lightly toned white PVC softcover. A very good, lightly handled cardboard slipcase with a horizontal crease (see photo) and light wear along the edges. A superb reference and inspirational volume!