10 principles of good design

I’m having my favorite sunday morning right now, tea and my laptop on the kitchen table. I came across a great video on where apple draws it’s inspiration, by a german industrial designer Dieter Rams.

This is my first introduction to Mr. Rams and I’m feeling very inspired and excited, this guy knows his design and is very sober and honest about his work. His approach can easily be translated to web design as can any design principles, all design resides of a canvas of sort, be it an actual canvas, computer screen or your home. Design must interact with various elements to be considered successful. In web design you design the content, make the content accessble and beautiful.

Good design is emotional.

Mr. Rams has an excellent list of 10 principle of good design, I think we can all take this to heart and sharpen our design skills.

1. Good design is innovative
2. Good design makes a product useful
3. Good design is aesthetic
4. Good design makes a product understandable
5. Good design is obtrusive
6. Good design is honest
7. Good design is long lasting
8. Good design is thorough, down to the last detail
9. Good design is environmentally-friendly
10. Good design is as little design as possible

Design should not dominate people, it should help people – Dieter Rams