What makes good design?. Dieter Rams, the world-famous industrial designer who has inspired designers around the world, answered this question in his iconic 10 principles.
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.
Useful
A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy certain criteria, not only functional, but also psychological and aesthetic. Good design emphasizes the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.
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.
Understandable
It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self-explanatory.
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.
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.
Long-lasting
It avoids being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even in today’s throwaway society.
To the last detail
Nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance. Care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the user.
Environmentally-friendly
Design makes an important contribution to the preservation of the environment. It conserves resources and minimizes physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.
As little design as possible
Less, but better – because it concentrates on the essential aspects, and the products are not burdened with non-essentials.
This principle is reposted from Good Design by Vitsoe with slightly remix for the images. All credit (copy and design) belongs to the original author and designer. There's also a good read by Thisisgrey about his fixation on the much better version — or his perspective on what good design is.
