dieter rams archive

Since 1994, the Dieter and Ingeborg Rams Foundation has been dedicated to supporting responsible and sensible product design. In particular, it seeks to critically examine and address, in various formats, the future demands on industrial design. Further, the foundation’s objectives include the scholarly analysis and public presentation of the founders’ design activities.

The foundation initially had a modest budget and could only work on a small scale. The main focus since 2010 has been on building up a scholarly archive with the estate of Dieter and Ingeborg Rams, and in cooperation with the Museum Angewandte Kunst in Frankfurt.

As of 2023, the foundation’s options have changed. Dieter and Ingeborg Rams decided in 2022 to transfer a considerable part of their private assets to the foundation. Since then, it has not had great foundation assets, but it is at least capable of operating. The foundation’s role is expected to be expanded in the future through other donations and cooperations.

A new organisational structure consisting of a board and a committee chaired by Dieter Rams has further professionalised the foundation. It operates on an international basis under the name rams foundation. Ingeborg Rams did not live to see this new phase of the foundation’s development. She passed away in Kronberg in May 2022.

The rams foundation wishes to contribute, internationally too, to a discourse on possible fields of activity in industrial design.

Dieter Rams with visitors at the Less and More exhibition in Seoul in December 2010 C rams foundation

Article by Klaus Klemp

Braun Design in Asia: Japan’s Enduring Influence

When considering Braun’s relationship with Asia, it immediately becomes clear that the German company has oriented itself internationally from the very outset. This is true both in terms of its products and sales markets. The Volksempfänger radio, with its short range, was followed in 1933 by the Fernempfangs-Vorsatz for European reception. The T 1000 world receiver of 1963, with which all short-wave transmitters worldwide could be received, became legendary.

The 931 bag was originally a private design by Dieter Rams, intended as a “homage and declaration of love” (Rams quote) to his wife Ingeborg. It is not uncommon for TSATSAS to present the 931 together with Braun and Vitsœ products designed by Rams. Photo: Gerhardt Kellermann © TSATSAS

Interview with Esther and Dimitrios Tsatsas

“The context must always call the dogma into question”

The Frankfurt couple Tsatsas designs and produces contemporary, minimalist leather bags, suitcases, and accessories in its own name. Since 2018, TSATSAS has also made handbags, using a design Dieter Rams originally did for his wife Ingeborg. The understated product enhanced the German-Greek fashion label’s international reputation.

Self-explanatory: The Braun headquarters in Kronberg, designed by schneider+schumacher, leaves no doubt as to where the entrance is. © Jörg Hempel

Interview with Till Schneider by Gerrit Terstiege

‘‘The idea of a self-explanatory design really impressed us’’

The architect Till Schneider has been a member of the board of trustees of the rams foundation for many years. He is a partner in the internationally renowned architectural firm schneider + schumacher, which has offices in Frankfurt, Berlin, Vienna, Tianjin, and Shenzhen. We spoke to Schneider about architectural designs that have been important to him in the last thirty years, his creative partnership with Michael Schumacher, and about the future development of the design and architecture fields.

A team with a long history: Dieter Rams and Mark Adams in conversation outside the Vitsœ shop in London, 2019. © Vitsœ

Mark Adams interview by Gerrit Terstiege

‘‘We Are Genuine System Thinkers in Everything We Do’’

The furniture company Vitsœ, solely producing furniture systems designed by Dieter Rams, was founded in 1959. Its director Mark Adams can look back on four decades of great challenges and accomplishments. Here, he speaks openly about working with Dieter Rams, the struggles of finding the right designer for the production building in Royal Leamington Spa, and his vision for the future of the company.