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Braun Good Design Masterclass Ilse Crawford

Braun marks its centenary with Good Design Masterclass by Ilse Crawford

Dezeen has teamed up with Braun to present a three-episode masterclass series with British designer Ilse Crawford, which aims to mark 100 years of the German design brand by inspiring "good design for a better future".

Called Good Design Masterclass, Braun produced the online series to showcase the three core design principles that it believes creates good design: "simple, useful and built to last".

In the masterclass, Crawford discusses how these three principles can be applied to the current design industry to inspire both young designers to shape the products of tomorrow, and for us all to embrace good design in our day-to-day lives.

Over the coming weeks, Dezeen will publish each of the three masterclass episodes, which are also available to watch on Braun's website.

Braun Good Design Masterclass Ilse Crawford
Above: the history of the spoon is one of the topics covered in the first masterclass episode. Top: the masterclass is led by designer Ilse Crawford

Each masterclass explores how design can "make life better for society and the environment," according to the brand.

"As the founding editor of Elle Decoration UK, Ilse has cultivated a reputation for empathetic designs that integrate both the functional and useful," said Braun. "She founded her eponymous multi-discipline design house Studioilse in 2001 and has led respected projects such as New York's Soho House."

Braun Masterclass
In episode two Crawford discusses VanMoof's S3 bike

The series starts by discussing Braun's first principle – simple. It explores how "good design" should almost be "invisible" yet clear to understand.

"Examples include the essentiality of the U-bend toilet by Alexander Cummings or even the spoon," said Braun.

Braun Good Design Masterclass Ilse Crawford
The second episode also features Össur's i-Limb Quantum robotic prosthetic hand

The second episode considers how design is "useful" and highlights that "design at its base level is a tool to provide sometimes profound solutions for real needs," according to the brand.

In this episode, Ilse references VanMoof's S3 bike and Össur's i-Limb Quantum robotic prosthetic hand.

Braun Masterclass
The masterclass series marks Braun's centenary

The final episode focuses on designs that are built to last. Ilse examines durability and how products can be engineered to last, focusing on the plastic Melting Pot Table Multichrome from Dirk Van Der Kooij, the Braun T3 radio designed by Dieter Rams and the Ulm School of Design.

To find out more about the Good Design Masterclass, please visit Braun's website.


Dezeen x Braun Good Design Masterclass

This article was written by Dezeen for Braun as part of our Dezeen x Braun Good Design Masterclass partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.

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Braun Good Design Masterclass Ilse Crawford
Braun Good Design Masterclass