Bio

1947/48

Two introductory semesters in interior design at the Handwerker- und Kunstgewerbeschule in Wiesbaden (from 1949: Werkkunstschule)

1948–51

Apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker in Kelkheim, which he completes with a journeyman’s license

1951–53

Studies interior architecture at the Werkkunstschule Wiesbaden, graduates with honours

1953–55

Works in the office of Frankfurt-based architect Otto Apel, collaborates with, among others, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

1955–97

Works for the electronic appliances company Braun: first as an interior architect, after 1956 as a product designer; becomes Head of the Product Design Department in 1961 and Director of Product Design in 1968, Executive Director in 1988 and Executive Director Corporate Identity Affairs from 1995 onwards

1956

Together with Hans Gugelot, he designs the radio-phonograph SK 4, commonly called ‘Snow White’s Coffin’; author or co-author of more than 500 designs for Braun in the following decades

1957

Starts collaborating with furniture manufacturer Otto Zapf

1959

Establishes the company Vitsœ & Zapf (today: Vitsœ) together with Otto Zapf and Niels Wiese Vitsœ; since then, numerous designs for system furniture for the company, for example the lounge chair programme 601/602 (1960, MGE-1161-1), the 606 Universal Shelving System (1960, MGE-1220) and the 620 Chair Programme (1962, SGE-1001)

1970/71

Designs and realises his own home in Kronberg im Taunus

c. 1975

First formulation of the ideas that will become Rams’ Ten Principles of Good Design in later years

1980–83

Travelling exhibition Design: Dieter Rams & in different European cities

1981–97

Professor for industrial design at the Hochschule für bildende Künste in Hamburg

1987–98

President of the German Design Council

Since 2000

Several solo exhibitions as well as two publications on Rams’ work

2006

Designs a so-called ideal house for the International Furniture Fair Cologne

2007

Receives the Design Award of the Federal Republic of Germany for his life’s work as well as the Lucky Strike Designer Award

2012

Appointment as TUM Distinguished Affiliated Professor at the Technical University of Munich; receives the Moholy-Nagy Award of the Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design, Budapest

2014

Compasso d’Oro for his life’s work