Dieter Rams began his studies in architecture and interior decoration at Wiesbaden School of Art in 1947, now part of the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences. A year later, in 1948, he took a break from studying to gain practical experience and finish his carpentry apprenticeship. He returned to the Wiesbaden School of Art in 1948 and graduated in architecture with honours in 1953, after which he began working for Frankfurt-based architect Otto Apel. In 1955, he was recruited by Braun as an architect and an interior designer, and eventually became a protégé of Fritz Eichler [de] and the Ulm School of Design professors Hans Gugelot and Otl Aicher, all of whom worked with Braun in various capacities. In 1961, Rams became the chief design officer[citation needed] at Braun, a position he retained until 1995.
Dieter Rams was strongly influenced by the presence of his grandfather, a carpenter. Rams once explained his design approach in the phrase "Weniger, aber besser" which translates as "Less, but better". Rams and his staff designed many memorable products for Braun including the famous SK4 radiogram and the high-quality 'D'-series (D45, D46) of 35mm film slide projectors. The SK4, known as the "Snow White's coffin," is considered revolutionary because it transitioned household appliance design away from looking like traditional furniture.
By producing electronic gadgets that were remarkable in their austere aesthetic and user friendliness, Rams made Braun a household name in the 1950s.

Return to Dieter Rams Autograph Profile