Chasing Perfection: The Braun ET66 Calculator

Good design is really hard, although it often appears effortless. The Braun ET calculator series is a case in point. The original ET22 was crafted by Braun's chief designer Dieter Rams and Dietrich Lubs in 1976. It was an immediate success, thanks to the glistening multi-colored keypad and functionalist high-tech styling.

However, it took more than a decade for Rams & Lubs to perfect the design in the ET66 (above, 1987) by removing every last sliding switch and non-circular button. Since then, the ET 66 has become one of the most imitated designs on earth. Even Apple wasn't immune to its allure; the original iPhone calculator paid unmistakable homage to its unobtrusive and functional form.

Design Museum: Dieter Rams