When times get bad I usually find myself turning to minimalist design in order to stay focused on the good things in life. The work of Dieter Rams has always brought me comfort since I discovered his work in the college library on my lunch break. Yeah, I was in the library at dinner time!

I've always loved his philosophy:
Good design is innovative.
Good design makes a product useful.
Good design is aesthetic.
Good design makes a product understandable.
Good design is unobtrusive.
Good design is honest.
Good design is long-lasting.
Good design is thorough down to the last detail.
Good design is environmentally friendly.
Good design is as little design as possible.

His influence has clearly been passed on to a new generation and Jonathan Ive, who designed Apple's iPod, has long acknowledged Dieter Rams as his primary inspiration. This Design Museum retrospective is really worth checking out. Rams is without question one of the 20th century's most influential and pioneering designers. Beautiful!