For my object exploration I have selected the Braun RT 20 Radio designed by German industrial designer Dieter Rams. I have been a fan of Ram’s work for sometime now and this radio to me is an example of minimalism that seems approachable. The radio is not overly complicated or does not seem stripped to the point where it does not seem like it should be use or interacted with. Ram’s is famous for his design “rules” or principles and his radio seems to exemplify most, if not all, of those rules and principles. Created in 1961, the radio has a total of 9 buttons, a grilled speaker and a radio dial. The radio comes in two colors, and off white/cream color and a charcoal grey.
The Braun RT 20 is still being produced to this day, though it may not be the exact quality as it was when it was first designed and released in 1960 with Dieter Ram’s as the creative director of Braun. I am interested in Ram’s work because it seems transparent in a way. Besides the design for his radio, all of his Braun labeled projects are very bare, allowing you to see the actually mechanics of the product and it’s simplicity. The designs are elegant but utilitarian and encourage use. They aren’t wall pieces or decoration that seems like a special or delicate part of the space they occupy. The Braun RT 20 invites you to twist its dials, press its buttons and interact with it like any other radio.
Citation for Images:
Soares, Teresa. “Braun RT 20.” Coroflot. August 6, 2014. Accessed September 21, 2016. http://www.coroflot.com/teresasoaresdsgn/Braun-RT-20.
