Image Source : DesignBoom
Dieter Rams is a well known designer. Among his works, I like his designs for the Braun calculator the best. The design is clean and appropriate use of colour coding for key buttons like the ‘equal’ button.
Here’s the key design guidelines from Dieter Rams that I got from Wikipedia .
1. Good design is innovative
It does not copy existing product forms, nor does it produce any kind of novelty just for the sake of it. The essence of innovation must clearly be seen in all of a product’s functions. Current technological development keeps offering new chances for innovative solutions.2. Good design makes a product useful
The product is bought in order to be used. It must serve as a defined purpose – in both primary and additional functions. The most important task of design is to optimize the utility of a product’s usability.3. Good design is aesthetic
The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products we use everyday affect our well-being. But only well-executed objects can be beautiful.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.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.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.7. Good design has longevity
It does not follow trends that become out-dated after a short time. Well designed products differ significantly from short-lived trivial products in today’s throwaway society.8. Good design is consequent down to the last detail
Nothing must be arbitrary. Thoroughness and accuracy in the design process shows respect toward the user.9. Good design is environmentally friendly
Design must make contributions toward a stable environment and sensible raw material situation. This does not only include actual pollution, but also visual pollution and destruction of our environment.10. Good design is as little design as possible
Less is better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects and the products are not burdened with non-essentials.Back to purity, back to simplicity!
Perhaps, I will blog about how some of the guidelines can be applied to designing software down the road.