Review: Ten Principles of Good Design by Dieter Rams
Get lost in the pages of a good book—it’s the soul of any room.
Dieter Rams, 20th-century design legend and guiding force behind ‘the Braun look’, once said, “My worry is that the world is becoming more chaotic every day. My excitement is that more people paying attention to ‘less but better’ could help solve our growing problems.” It’s this credo that underpins this compelling reference book for Rams devotees – and anyone who calls themselves a designer.
A monumental volume at 416 pages with 400 illustrations, its 13 sections (plus bibliography) include 100 iconic products designed over the designer’s 40-year career, plus exceptional essays by Klaus Klemp and Erik Mattie, which provide excellent elaborations of his ten principles of good design. One of the most pointed inclusions is Rams’ ‘Tokyo Manifesto’, where he states: “To follow the thoughts on modesty or frugality for a certain time could be the beginning of an altogether new understanding of products.”
Rams’ clarity, vision and uncompromising ethical stances are exactly what’s needed as we move through the 21st century’s most troubled times, and as such, this exciting new volume ought to be required reading for all practitioners and students of architecture and design.
By Dieter Rams and Edited by Cees W. de Jong
Prestel
The Latest
The Art of the Outdoors
The Edra Standard Outdoor sofa redefines outdoor living through design that feels, connects and endures
The Art of Wellness
Technogym collaborates with Assouline to release a book that celebrates the brand’s 30-year contribution to the fitness industry
The Destination for Inspired Living – Modora Home
Five reasons why you need to visit the latest homegrown addition to the UAE’s interiors landscape
Elemental Balance — A Story Told Through Surfaces
This year at Downtown Design 2025, ClayArk invites visitors to step into a world where design finds its rhythm in nature’s quiet harmony.
The identity Insider’s Guide to Downtown Design 2025
With the fair around the corner, here’s an exciting guide for the debuts and exhibits that you shouldn’t miss
A Striking Entrance
The Oikos Synua door with its backlit onyx finish makes a great impression at this home in Kuwait.
Marvel T – The latest launch by Atlas Concorde
Atlas Concorde launches Marvel T, a new interpretation of travertine in collaboration with HBA.
Read ‘Regional Excellence’ – Note from the editor
Read the magazine on issuu or grab it off newsstands now.
Chatai: Where Tradition Meets Contemporary Calm
Inspired by Japanese tea rooms and street stalls, the space invites pause, dialogue, and cultural reflection in the heart of Dubai Design District
A Floating Vision: Dubai Museum of Art Rises from the Creek
Inspired by the sea and pearls, the Dubai Museum of Art becomes a floating ode to the city’s heritage and its boundless artistic ambition.
Heritage Reimagined
Designlab Experience turns iconic spaces into living narratives of Emirati culture, luxury, and craftsmanship.
Nakhla by Nada Debs
Nakhla symbolises resilience, prosperity and a deep connection to the land