Growing up on the island of Cyprus and the start of a love affair with everything Dieter Rams

I remember growing up on the island of Cyprus in the 80s and I fondly remember electronics and devices that were primarily designed in Japan, West Germany and England. Very few items were imported from the United States, and at that time Taiwan was today's China - where all the knock offs and cheap stuff was made.
As a a teenager I was intrigued by pure, simple and functional design. To this day I adore quiet design. I remember my parents had a Bang & Olufsen system that was cleanly designed and had the right amount of buttons and lights. I fondly remember the classic SMITHS analog speed dials on my dad's Jaguar.. pure, classic and timeless - As British as the Queen one might say. I remember the original CASIO G SHOCK watches from Japan that were designed to be pure in their function and rugged looks. But what really moved me, what really intrigued me, were objects designed in West Germany. Back then, all items bore the label - Made in West Germany - every time I saw the label, I automatically perceived the object with a tad bit more admiration and inquisition. One day I came across this one item, I think it was a turntable, or shaver or clock or something at my aunt's house. I don't recall what exactly, but I was moved by its "honest" design. When I first saw it I thought it was broken, missing a part or something, but upon closer observation I noticed it was not missing anything. It was brand new, flawless and it bore a gorgeous understated logotype that said BRAUN - strategically placed on the top left - in my eyes it was perfect.
I knew then and there that I preferred this pure design and I subconsciously started comparing everything I saw to that aesthetic.
I had no clue who the designer was behind this simple yet beautiful design.
This was before the internet and information had to be really researched and alot of effort had to go into it - and me being a teenager I had so many other things I would rather be doing....like crank calling pizza joints or something...
After that I started noticing more and more how this design influenced other companies as well, like KRUPS, BOSCH, GAGGENAU just to name a few. The Japanese were adding bells and whistles to their products while the West Germans were removing them, and making the products function better with less.

When I arrived in the United States in 1992 to attend college I had a list of items I had to buy for my dorm room for freshman year. One of them was an alarm clock. I went to the store and started looking around. And there, amongst all the oversized, overdesigned, digital 3D hologram clocks made in Taiwan I found it. My first Braun product which I still cherish to this day. And the man behind all of this - Mr Dieter Rams - one of the greatest product designers alive.
Vielen Dank Herr Rams for introducing me to the notion that simple and clean design can also be elegant and timeless. A notion I employ everyday as creative director at Flat 6 Concepts.