Hey Reader! Take a deep breath - we've almost made it to the weekend! ๐
Are you familiar with Dieter Rams? He was a German industrial designer who worked at Braun for decades, and is responsible for some of the most quietly beautiful objects ever made. Record players, radios, kitchen appliances - things that somehow still look current sixty years later. His design style defined an era (and is the inspiration behind some of Apple's most iconic designs) and he was way ahead of his time in terms of responsible design.
He famously had ten principles of good design (which in my opinion are pretty much as close to perfect as you can get ๐). If you aren't familiar with those, here they are:
Dieter Rams' Ten Principles of Good Design
- 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
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You have probably heard the tenth principle paraphrased as: "Less, but better." And the more I think about it, the more I believe it's probably the most useful design principle there is for small business owners and creators trying to make their stuff look good and stand out in the noise, without burning out.
BUT, it's often misunderstood. It's not less as in bare or plain, or minimalist for the aesthetic of it. It's 'less' as in considered. Meaning only allowing or making space for the elements that actually earn their place.
It's the difference between a design that feels calm and intentional, and one that feels like you couldn't decide - so you just kept everything. It's something I cover in the new CanvaOS content too - because I really think it matters.
Here's a simple thing you can try right now. Next time you're looking at a design that isn't quite working, instead of asking "what more do I need to do?", ask "what could I take away?" Just one thing. That extra shape, the extra background image, the little decorative element that felt cute at the time. Remove it, step back, and look again. Nine times out of ten, it's better. And if it isn't, you can always put it back.
That one small shift in how you approach a design - starting from subtraction of the unneccessary instead of addition - tends to change how the whole thing feels. Calmer. More confident. More like you meant it. AND it makes your message stronger.
It's a small habit, but honestly that one thing can really have a big impact once it becomes second nature.
Conveniently enough...this week's Canva update is a perfect example of another tiny change that makes a surprisingly big difference ๐.
Small fix, big impact
If you've used Canva's Video 2.0 editor since it launched last year, you'll probably know how frustrating some of it's 'quirks' can be.๐
The timeline view was a big step forward in a lot of ways - much more flexible, way closer to the kind of editing tools we're used to. But there was one issue that made the whole thing feel kind of broken. And for a lot of people, it was enough to make them give up on it entirely.
Canva has finally fixed it. And honestly, it's one of those updates that sounds small on paper but just makes it so much better to use.
This week's youtube video walks you through exactly what changed, how to use it, and a couple of tidy little tips for keeping your timeline clean while you're at it.๐
โCheck it out on my channel now.โ
Meaningful Creations
If you have any doubts about the lasting impact of Dieter Rams' design principles, I thought this would be a great time to introduce you to a brand called Teenage Engineering.
Teenage Engineering is a Swedish design & electronics company, founded in 2005. They basically make audio tools - synthesisers, mixers, recorders - but that description doesn't really do them justice. What they actually make are objects that feel considered in a way that very few things do anymore.
Their approach is rooted in the same principles Rams championed: function and form as one idea, not a compromise between the two. Every control is visible. Every material is intentional. Nothing is hidden behind a menu when it could be expressed through a physical gesture instead. It's futuristic in a way that feels nostalgic. And MOST importantly, the quality is incredible.
The TP-7 aluminium voice recorder - which you can see in the image below - is a brilliant example of this. It does one thing: it records sound. But the way it does it is worth paying attention to. At its centre is a motorised reel that spins as you record, a quiet nod to analogue tape that also doubles as a navigation control. The whole device is designed around zero friction - press one button and it's recording. No unlocking, no app, no faff. Just thought to tape, instantly.
Teenage Engineering products are not cheap...in any sense. But that's also a bit of a red herring when it comes to what we can learn from it. (If you are a CanvaOS member you will definitely notice some echoes of what we talk about inside the course! ๐)
What they consistently demonstrate is that restraint and intentionality in design aren't just aesthetic choices - they're what makes something feel genuinely good to own and to use. And that principle costs nothing to apply to your own work.
Check out their website and Instagram, and tell 'em I sent ya.๐
That's it folks. ๐ค
PS: YIKES! ๐ฌ CanvaOS 3.0 enrolment open on Monday! Like, THIS COMING MONDAY 11 May! I am so excited to launch the new salespage and also share all the new updates with you - I am so proud of what this course has evolved into. If you are not a member of CanvaOS and you'd like to learn to use Canva like a pro - just head to createdbywayne.com/canvaos on Monday. And keep an eye on your inbox. ๐
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