Good design at Vitsœ

Armchair and footstool, comfortable reading chair and footstool, designer, modern, high back in red leather. Off-white shell. 620 Chair. Dieter Rams designs. Hand made by Vitsœ. Library shelving system, modular bookshelves

Here at Vitsœ we stand for the inordinate power of good design in everything we do: designing thoughtfully, responsibly and intelligently for our company, our furniture and the many people who share a profound interest in all of our tomorrows.

For over 60 years, Vitsœ has worked continuously with Dieter Rams. He still improves his designs to this day and is often cited by a new generation as a key influence on their work that is shaping the 21st century.

“In 1957 I began to develop a storage system that formed the basis of the company Vitsœ, which was founded in 1959. Thus the ideology behind my design is engrained within the company.”

Dieter Rams

Ten principles for good design

Back in the late 1970s, Dieter Rams was becoming increasingly concerned by the state of the world around him: “An impenetrable confusion of forms, colours and noises.”

Aware that he was a significant contributor to that world, he asked himself an important question: is my design good design?

His answer is expressed in his ten principles for good design.

Dieter Rams, Vitsœ’s furniture designer. Photograph by Abisag Tüllmann
Vitsœ’s designer, Dieter Rams. Photograph by Abisag Tüllmann
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.

Dieter Rams designs. TP 1 radio/phono combination, 1959, designed by Dieter Rams for Braun
TP 1 radio/phono combination, 1959, by Dieter Rams for Braun
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 emphasises the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.

Dieter Rams designs. MPZ 21 multipress citrus juicer, 1972, designed by Dieter Rams and Jürgen Greubel for Braun
MPZ 21 multipress citrus juicer, 1972, by Dieter Rams and Jürgen Greubel for Braun
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.

Dieter Rams designs. RT 20 tischsuper radio, 1961, designed by Dieter Rams for Braun
RT 20 tischsuper radio, 1961, by Dieter Rams for Braun
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.

Dieter Rams designs. T 1000 world receiver, 1963, designed by Dieter Rams for Braun
T 1000 world receiver, 1963, by Dieter Rams for Braun
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.

Dieter Rams designs. Cylindric T 2 lighter, 1968, designed by Dieter Rams for Braun
Cylindric T 2 lighter, 1968, by Dieter Rams for Braun
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.

Dieter Rams designs. L 450 flat loudspeaker, TG 60 reel-to-reel tape recorder and TS 45 control unit, 1962-64, designed by Dieter Rams for Braun
L 450 flat loudspeaker, TG 60 reel-to-reel tape recorder and TS 45 control unit, 1962-64, by Dieter Rams for Braun
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.

Dieter Rams designs. Armchair, Lounge chair, 620 Chair Programme. Hand made by Vitsœ
620 Chair Programme, 1962, by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
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.

Dieter Rams designs. ET 66 calculator, 1987, by Dietrich Lubs for Braun
ET 66 calculator, 1987, by Dietrich Lubs for Braun
9

Good design is environmentally-friendly

Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimises physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.

Dieter Rams designs. Modular shelving, 606 Universal Shelving System with drawer cabinets. Made and sold by Vitsœ
606 Universal Shelving System, 1960, by Dieter Rams for Vitsœ
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.

Dieter Rams designs. L 2 speaker, 1958, designed by Dieter Rams for Braun
L 2 speaker, 1958, by Dieter Rams for Braun
 
These principles can be shared accurately and fairly under the Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0 licence.

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Dieter Rams designs. Modular shelving, 606 Universal Shelving System with drawer cabinets. Made and sold by Vitsœ
606 Universal Shelving System

Start small. Add to it. Take it with you when you move.

Dieter Rams designs. Leather armchair, lounge chair, low-back and high-back, 620 Chair Programme. Hand made by Vitsœ
620 Chair Programme

Start with a single chair. Add another to make a sofa.

Dieter Rams designs. Nesting pair side tables, modern and minimalist, white and black. 621 Side Table
621 Side Table

Surprisingly useful, on its own or as a pair.