Edited by Klaus Klemp and Keiko Ueki-Polet, 2015
BOOK
Less and More: The Design Ethos of Dieter Rams is a hardcover book published by Gestalten, originally conceived as the catalogue for a retrospective that opened in Japan in 2008 before traveling to the Design Museum in London. Spanning 808 pages and presented in both German and English, the volume brings together more than 300 color photographs, sketches, models, and critical essays by Klaus Klemp, Sophie Lovell, and Rams himself.
The book offers a detailed account of Rams’ work with Braun and Vitsoe, examining his influence on design culture within the context of postwar German industrial design. It explores key references such as Bauhaus principles, the pedagogical approach of the Ulm School, and Rams’ own Ten Principles for Good Design.
One of the book’s defining qualities is the strength of its graphic design. A white vinyl cover, minimalist slipcase, and the use of three types of paper create a careful balance between clarity, legibility, and visual presence. Every editorial choice echoes the quiet, functional aesthetic that defines Rams’ work.
This edition stands out for being visually oriented, for its format, and the attention to graphic design and editorial layout, which make it appealing to book collectors. It is often chosen by researchers and readers that are looking for thorough documentation, as well as graphic quality in design publishing.
Less and More: the editorial project
The editorial approach of Less and More closely mirrors Dieter Rams’ design ethos. The book is functional, restrained, and materially consistent in every detail. Its 808 pages are bound in a flexible white PVC cover with a soft, tactile finish, housed in a grey slipcase made of pressed cardboard. This pairing balances delicacy and durability, making the large-format volume easy to handle while reflecting Rams’ preference for honest, utilitarian materials.
Inside, three types of paper are used, each selected for a specific role. Texts are printed on a thin, uncoated stock that supports readability. High-resolution photographs appear on a heavier matte paper, while technical drawings are reproduced on a third stock chosen to enhance precision. The result is a coherent and visually balanced publication that maintains clarity across a diverse body of content.
Typographic choices echoes the clean, orderly aesthetic of Braun’s design language. German and English texts are arranged side by side on facing pages, with footnotes integrated into the same spread for ease of reference. Images are placed with generous use of white space and often occupy the full page. In the catalogue sections, some technical diagrams are rendered at a scale that feels slightly too small, but overall the grid-based layout and balanced composition convey a strong sense of visual order and calm.
Why the book is interesting
Compared to other publications on Dieter Rams, Less and More stands out for its ability to combine high-quality editorial design with a comprehensive and in-depth account of the designer’s work.
It is a book to be read and observed with equal attention. The orderly layout, careful selection of materials, image quality, and typographic clarity make the visual experience an integral part of the content. The book builds a coherent narrative that conveys both the form of the objects and the thinking behind them.
With its bilingual format, critical essays, and more than 300 images, the volume serves as a solid and accessible resource for study, while also standing as a collectible object valued for its formal beauty. Less and More is a remarkable book not only for what it contains, but for how it communicates it—offering a tangible expression of the principle “less, but better.”
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Details
Gestalten
The book is available on Amazon.com >
Hardcover, 808 Pagine
978-3899555844
