"LESS and MORE"...the Dieter Rams retrospect at the SFMOMA

The SFMOMA does a wonderful job of bringing unique and design-oriented curated shows to the museum.  My husband and I were thrilled to learn that a collection and retrospect of German industrial designer Dieter Rams would be added to this list of must-see shows.

We attended the opening night which was well attended by an iPhone heavy crowd  (and Dieter himself, bless his heart) that were snapping away photos on their mini computers – myself included - phones that very much evolved from Rams’ designs.  In fact, there are several Apple items that bear an eerie resemblance to Rams’ designs for Braun.  You'll see what i mean in a bit...

It was a very crowded opening night so I didn’t take many shots.  I headed back a few weeks ago to really study and absorb the beautiful objects Rams designed for domestic wares  companies Braun and Vitsoe for over 50 years.  His industrial designs and approach – “less, but better” – set the bar in this field and continues to do so.

 

furniture designs for Danish furniture company Vitsoe

 

first portable radio if its kind.  the handle when not used for carrying, folds down to become a stand.  1961.

 

portable radios and record players. 1958 – 1962.

 

a Dieterism.

 

hairdryers. 1970. Rams favored a color palette of whites, grays, blacks  and natural materials.  he felt this gave the products a certain anonymity and that they would not dominate and environment, thus improving longevity by avoiding falling out of fashion.

 

T2 table lighters, 1968.

loudspeaker, 1969.

amplifier and record player, 1959.

radio-phono combinations,  1956 – 1963

 

radio-phono combination, 1956.  this particular model was called “Snow White’s Coffin” because  of its use of a clear covering.  the competition thought it too much of a nod to temporary fashion.  i find it insanely RAD.

fan by Reinhold Weiss for Braun, 1961.

Braun vs. Apple

the RT-20 in our home.  

all images with the exception of Braun vs Apple are by janel holiday design.

soundtrack is White Hinterland’s  “Kairos” album…a sweet album that explores a classically trained voice over varied tracks: