Design Principles

09 May 2011

Re Blog – This is interesting and is aimed at Marketers and Graphic Designers, but the principles apply to Interior Decor also. Our notes are under each entry

Room design from www.homeklondike.com

Dieter Ram’s “Ten Principles of Good Design”
Good design:

Is innovative - Rams states that possibilities for innovation in design are unlikely to be exhausted since technological development is always offering new opportunities for innovative design. He also highlights that innovative design always develops in tandem with innovative technology and can never be an end in and of itself.

Think of how we have all made design changes to our environment due to technologic enhancements in the Kitchen, Bathroom or with the Television.

Makes a product useful - A product is bought to be used. It has to satisfy certain criteria, not only functional, but also psychological and aesthetic. Good design emphasises the usefulness of a product whilst disregarding anything that could possibly detract from it.

Pure form follows function. If an Item has a function (and everything in the home should have function even if we just feel good looking at it) then it needs to be very useful and save us time and energy or be very pleasing. If it has to be left out in the open, then it needs to fit in with our design.

Is aesthetic - Only well-executed objects can be beautiful. The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products used every day have an effect on people and their well-being.

A wonderful piece of Sculpture, Painting or Vase etc… should bring us pleasure, provide calm, capture some wonderful memory or move us in some positive way, otherwise, it need not be included in our Home Design.

Makes a product understandable - It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product clearly express its function by making use of the user’s intuition. At best, it is self-explanatory.

I love this one. often times, clients will apolgize for the visible TV in the Den or Baskets of shoes in the Mud Room. We need to live in our homes and we need to use it in a way that suits us. That is – This is the room we watch the TV in and this is were we leave our muddy shoes. If the purpose for an item is obvious then it has great design.

Is unobtrusive - Products and their design should be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression. Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools and are neither decorative objects nor works of art.

It is very possible to have a tiolet brush out in the open whilst it almost disappearsinto the background, It would be preferable to have it tucked away, but if it or iems like it have to be seen then buy the best design you can.

Is honest - Honest design should not attempt to make a product seem more innovative, powerful or valuable than it really is. It should not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.

An important point to consider there shopping for products, we always need to watch out for the Hype in Advertising. Good to read someone in the industry say this though.

Is long-lasting - It should avoid being fashionable and therefore never appears antiquated. Unlike fashionable design, it lasts many years – even when the trend may be in favor for disposable products.

We always encourage our cleints to go for the best quality in terms of product they can afford at the time, and not to follow trends. A home with a timeless backbone of good furniture can be accessorised easily to follow current trends.

Is thorough down to the last detail - Dieter Rams states that nothing must be arbitrary or left to chance in the design of a product since care and accuracy in the design process show respect towards the consumer.

You should feel that your Decorator or Designer has the fine detail covered. If you don’t feel like this you will be concerned about any project.

Is environmentally friendly - Good design should make an important contribution to the preservation of the environment by conserving resources and minimizing physical and visual pollution throughout the lifecycle of the product.

Whilst this is always a concern, care should be taken to do the research, often the term “Green” carries and an unneccessarily high price.

Is as little design as possible - Dieter Rams makes the distinction between the common “Less is more” and his strongly advised “Less, but better” highlighting the fact that this approach focuses on the essential aspects thus, the products are not burdened with non-essentials. The desirable result would then be purer and simpler.

Totally agree with this one, Unless, Yes – Unless, it’s the Holidays and then Less is Never More. Can’t get enough Glitter and Greenery, Candles and Gold Stuff, Trees and Twinkling lights, but then we have to let loose sometimes, don’t we?