Braun

Max Braun

Braun is a German company providing household machines and appliances to make daily life easier for consumers. Founded in the year 1928 by an engineer named Max Braun, he opened up a factory with 400 employees.

Braun expanded their product range to simplify everyday life for consumers. In 1950, they came out with their first foil shaver and multimix food processor, introducing their new household line.

Logo variation throughout the years

Throughout the years, Braun has kept their logo fairly simple and within the same concept. Their first logo is the most, 'decorative' as it block-ish, making it look more 3D. Their second logo, they decided to keep it strictly typographic without much decoration to it. The typeface used is slightly more wide, short and looks like it is spaced out more. Peter Schneider, had designed their latest logo. Keeping it similar to their previous design, this logo looks much more clean with its tall yet thick typeface.

(left: older version - 90's right: newer model)

As far as I know, Braun is mostly known for their grooming products such as shavers. Just like their logo, both models are similar in style. Just like Bauhaus, Braun's products are all very minimal, (somewhat) geometric is shape and does not use that many colours. Technology wise you can see that the newer model is much more safe and has a cover to protect the blades on the shaver. It also looks like it might have other settings on it as it has a few twisty knobs. Braun believes that less is more hence why their products are all very simple.

Dieter Rams

Dieter Rams born in 1932, is one of the brands main product designers. The German industrial designer uses the 'less is more' approach which evidently has influenced the products he has designed. His products have been designed to be timeless so that however into the future we get to, his products would still be relevant. Additionally he has influenced many modern designers including those who had designed the iPod 2 from Apple.

Lastly, Rams believes that to make good designs, they should fall into these principles:

Diter Rams' Good Design Principles:

1. Innovative

2. Makes a product useful

3. Is honest

4. Long lasting

5. Environmentally friendly

6. Little design as possible

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Reflection:

During my diploma, I had briefly learnt Bauhaus as an art movement but did not fully learn about it in depth so it was nice to refresh my memory and learn more than what I did previously. I quite enjoy learning about different art movements but personally I find it easier to understand through visuals and videos. I think that it would be nice if we could learn more about different art movements (if possible) because that way it would allow us to try out new things. When I took History of Graphic Design in diploma we had an assignment where we had to study an art movement and create a poster and ticket design for an exhibition in the style of that art movement so perhaps we could do something like that in the future if it fits into our syllabus.