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Dieter Rams by Abisag Tüllmann

Vitsœ granted exclusive licence to produce Dieter Rams furniture

News: Dieter Rams (pictured), the former head of design at Braun, has made furniture brand Vitsœ the exclusive worldwide licencee of his complete collection of furniture designs.

Vitsœ has produced Dieter Rams' furniture designs, notably the 606 Universal Shelving System (below), since it was established by Niels Vitsœ and Otto Zapf in Germany in 1959, but this new decision allows the international furniture manufacturer to sell Rams' complete portfolio of furniture designs.

Dieter Rams grants Vitsoe exclusive worldwide license

"Vitsœ’s disciplined business practices and manufacturing intelligence are in true alignment with the values of my design," commented Rams. "Vitsœ’s growing international presence and continued commitment to the constant improvement of my products ensure that my furniture is in the best hands for the years ahead.”

The first new productions of Rams’s original furniture will be launched in 2013.

Dieter Rams grants Vitsoe exclusive worldwide license

Above: Rams' 621 Side Table

Dezeen previously recorded a podcast with Rams at London's Design Museum, where he talked to Vitsœ managing director Mark Adams about an exhibition of his work at the museum – see more stories about Dieter Rams.

The Braun BN0076 digital watch, based on the classic DW30 timepiece originally designed by Rams in 1978, is currently available to buy from Dezeen Watch Store.

Dieter Rams grants Vitsoe exclusive worldwide license

Above: Rams' 620 Chair

Photographs are courtesy of Vitsœ, except the portrait of Rams, which is by Abisag Tüllmann.

Here's the press release from Vitsœ:


Dieter Rams grants Vitsœ exclusive worldwide licence to his original furniture designs

Vitsœ, the international furniture manufacturer and retailer, is pleased to announce that it becomes the exclusive worldwide licensee of Dieter Rams’s complete collection of original furniture designs with effect from 1 January 2013.

Established by Niels Vitsœ and Otto Zapf near Frankfurt, Germany in 1959, Vitsœ has produced the furniture designs of Dieter Rams ever since, in particular, the 606 Universal Shelving System. Today, with a growing international team in a variety of worldwide locations, Vitsœ has pioneered selling directly to its customers in more than 50 countries and is renowned for its single-minded commitment to responsible design.

Dieter Rams, formerly head of design at Braun, is regarded as one of the most influential industrial designers of the twentieth century. Having recently celebrated his 80th birthday, Rams commented: “Vitsœ’s disciplined business practices and manufacturing intelligence are in true alignment with the values of my design. This makes Vitsœ the ideal partner to present my products worldwide and it is for this reason that I have given Vitsœ the licence to sell not only the 606 Universal Shelving System but my complete portfolio of furniture designs in Germany and throughout the world. In addition, Vitsœ’s growing international presence and continued commitment to the constant improvement of my products ensure that my furniture is in the best hands for the years ahead.”

Vitsœ is developing new production of Rams’s original furniture, the first of which will be launched in 2013.