Dieter Rams
(Image credit: Press)

These days, it’s almost a reflex action to pronounce 'Less but better' every time the subject turns to product design. Quite exactly what the phrase means, however, is considerably less easy to explain. For that, it’s been, equally, a reflex action to turn to Dieter Rams for guidance.

For over half a century, the German designer has almost single-handedly directed the evolution of objective functionalism – the idea that good design should be innovative, functional and durable all while looking very good.

exhibition

(Image credit: Press)

See more images from the Dieter Rams exhibition

The bulk of Rams’ work – well, the work for which his name will forever be linked – was done with Braun, Vitsoe, sdr+ and FSB International. With the designer turning 76 this year, the Japanese – no slouches themselves when it comes to clean, pure lined design – have taken it upon themselves to mount an exhibition of product design with Rams holding the place of honour.

Certainly, the challenge of editing Rams is daunting. The catalogue is extensive and in his lifetime, Rams has designed or supervised the design of over 500 products – a prodigious output that not even Jonathan Ive’s Apple team can compete with.

As it is, the exhibition – a mix of sketches, models, photographs and films – covers the usual suspects such as the multi-press citrus juicer, the T1000 world receiver radio and the ET88 calculator. But to hold any possible ennui at bay, there are pleasant discoveries in store including the LE1 loudspeaker and the rarely seen TPI radio, a portable record player and radio combination that Rams has described as the first Walkman.

The exhibition is due to finish its run at Osaka’s Suntory Museum on 25 January 2008 before moving onto Tokyo’s Fuchu Art Museum in May. And if an added reason is required to swing by, the catalogue by Keiko Ueki and Klaus Kemp is a wonderfully comprehensive look at the great man's work - with an essay by our very own Wallpaper* Editor-at-Large Sophie Lovell.

ADDRESS

Suntory Museum 1-5-10 Kaigandori Minato-ku Osaka 552-0022

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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.