1932

May 20, 1932: Dieter Rams was born in Wiesbaden, Germany. His early exposure to craftsmanship came through his grandfather, a master carpenter, whose methodical approach to work and materials would profoundly influence Rams' design philosophy.

1947

Rams studied architecture and interior design in Wiesbaden, interrupted by a carpentry apprenticeship before graduating with distinction in 1953.

1955

At age 23, Rams joined Braun as an architect and interior designer. The Braun brothers, Erwin and Artur, were transforming their father's traditional company into a modern consumer electronics manufacturer and needed fresh design talent.

1956

Rams co-designed the revolutionary Phonosuper SK4 with Hans Gugelot. Nicknamed "Snow White's Coffin" due to its transparent Plexiglas cover (Rams' innovation), this radio-phonograph combination broke completely with traditional "music furniture" and established Braun's new design direction.

1957

Rams requested permission from Erwin Braun to design furniture for Niels Vitsœ and Otto Zapf, beginning a parallel career that would last until his retirement. This dual role allowed him to explore systematic, modular design principles across different product categories.

1958

The T3 transistor radio emerged as another landmark design. Created in collaboration with the Ulm School of Design, its compact form and circular tuning dial would later inspire Apple's first iPod design decades later.

1961

At age 29, Rams was appointed Head of Design at Braun, forming a creative team with Gerd A. Müller, Roland Weigend, and other talented designers. This collaborative approach would define Braun's design excellence for the next three decades.

1967

December 1967: Rams married Ingeborg Kracht, a photographer who had joined Braun in 1957. She became his creative partner, documenting not only Braun and Vitsœ products but also their shared life and design philosophy.

1978

With Dietrich Lubs, Rams designed iconic calculators (ET44 in 1978, ET66 in 1987), whose sliding cases and simple interfaces directly shaped Apple’s digital calculator app.

1995

After 34 years as design leader, Rams stepped down as Head of Design at Braun, succeeded by Peter Schneider. He remained as Executive Director of corporate identity affairs until 1997.

1997

Rams completed his retirement from both Braun and teaching at age 65, ending a remarkable dual career spanning over four decades.

2002

Germany awarded Rams its highest civilian honor, the Grand Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, recognizing his contributions to design and culture.

2024

September 25, 2024: The European Union Intellectual Property Office honored Rams with the DesignEuropa Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing him as a "pioneer of both design and sustainability" who "designed more than 200 iconic devices."