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Braun GmbH, formerly Braun AG, is a German consumer products company based in Kronberg, Germany. From the mid-1950s, the Braun brand was closely linked with the concept of German modern industrial design and its combination of functionality and technology. In 1956, Braun created its first design department, headed by Dr. Fritz Eichler, who instituted a collaboration with the Ulm School of Design to develop a new product line.

Amazing pieces of industrial design that still today remain fresh, true classics that have survived the test of time.

In 1956 the company introduced its famous SK4 record player (‘Snow White’s Coffin’), designed by a youthful Dieter Rams together with the pioneer of system design Hans Gugelot.

Rams soon became the most influential designer at Braun and he served as head of design for Braun for nearly 30 years. Many of his designs have found a permanent home at the Museum of Modern Art.

In the 1970s, a design approach influenced by pop-art began to inspire Braun products, which by this time included many common household appliances and products. Contemporary Braun design of the period incorporated this new approach in bright colors and a lightness of touch, while still clean-lined in keeping with Functionalist philosophy.

We can also notice, that when you look at the Braun products and compare them to Apple products, you can clearly see the similarities in their philosophies way beyond the sparse use of color, the selection of materials and how the products are shaped around the function with no artificial design, keeping the design “honest.”

Resources

• das programm
• Dieter Rams group pool on Flickr
• Braun group pool on Flickr

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Authored by Nikola Lazarevic

Web Designer, Blogger, M.Sc in Electronic Engineering from Nis, Serbia. Founder of webexpedition18.com. You can find me on Twitter.