Braun.
Designed for what matters.

We believe that good design can make lives better - 100 years ago, now and in the future.

For 100 years, Braun has kept to three important principles, inspired by people: Good design is simple, useful and built to last. Until today, people all over the world turn to us because Braun products make life better. They trust in our brand when it counts the most: Whether they want to prepare that special dinner for a first date, iron their best shirt for an important job interview or prepare a vast breakfast for the whole family.

From inventor’s workshop to global brand

Ingenious.

In the early 1920s, engineer Max Braun founds a machine-building workshop in Frankfurt am Main. On the strength of its groundbreaking inventions for the emerging radio broadcasting industry, the firm opens its own factory building with 400 employees in 1928.

Helpful.

During the postwar period, Braun expands its product range with newly developed devices that simplify everyday life. In 1950, simultaneously with the first foil shaver, the Multimix food processor makes its market debut, inaugurating the company’s household line.

Visionary.

After the sudden death of Max Braun, his sons take the company helm in the early fifties. They lay the groundwork for a people-focused corporate culture that extends to all areas of the company – from its letterhead to its exhibition stands, its health service to its whole-foods cafeteria.

Less, but better.

Under the aegis of design legend Dieter Rams, Braun’s radical new Bauhaus-inspired, functional product design sets a new style standard. The company won a rapid succession of national and international prizes and awards for its products. Braun became world-famous as a design brand, and the company became the first to introduce “good design” to the mass market.

Innovative.

Braun reaches the limits of a family-run firm. In the late sixties, Gillette takes over the successful enterprise with its 5,700 employees. This opens up new markets and distribution channels to Braun. Investments increase the company’s innovative strength and broaden its product range, which soon grows to include coffeemakers and electric irons. Characteristic German design, quality and engineering prowess bolster Braun’s standing against cheaply produced competing products.

Today.

Procter & Gamble’s takeover of Gillette in 2005 makes Braun one of twenty-four global brands of the largest consumer-product group in the world. P&G transfers the rights to the Braun brand in the area of household appliances to De’Longhi S.p.A. in 2012. Along with the corresponding patents and production facilities, De’Longhi acquires a large part of Braun’s employees, thereby ensuring that Braun household appliances will continue to offer distinctive design, technological innovation and reliable quality far into the future.

Braun produced the KM 3 food processor for more than three decades.

Here you can see the KM 3-31 model from 1957. The development of the KM 3 began with the construction of a test model to determine the most suitable rotational speed for the drive. After extensive mixing and kneading trials, the development team designed the drive unit. When it came to the form of the KM 3, the design department developed various models of the base plate, bowl, mixing arm and motor base that were combined with the technology until the first preproduction model, the wistar, emerged.

I 10 principi del buon design di Dieter Rams

Assunto come architetto per riprogettare gli uffici della Braun, Dieter Rams è ora un designer di punta; ha sviluppato il memorabile linguaggio di design di Braun e ha definito i 10 principi del buon design, un manuale di design importante ancora oggi.

1 Il buon design è innovativo.

Le possibilità di innovazione non sono, in alcun modo, esaurite. Lo sviluppo tecnologico offre sempre nuove opportunità di design innovativo.

2 Il buon design rende utile un prodotto.

Un prodotto viene acquistato per essere utilizzato. Deve soddisfare certi criteri, non solo funzionali, ma anche psicologici ed estetici. Un buon design enfatizza l’utilità di un prodotto, ignorando qualsiasi aspetto che possa ridurne la funzionalità.

3 Il buon design ha una bella estetica.

La qualità estetica di un prodotto è parte integrante della sua utilità, perché i prodotti che usiamo ogni giorno influenzano la nostra persona e il nostro benessere. Ma solo gli oggetti ben progettati possono essere belli.

4 Il buon design rende comprensibile un prodotto.

Chiarisce la struttura del prodotto. Meglio che sia silente, per far parlare il prodotto. Nella migliore delle ipotesi è autoesplicativo.

5 Il buon design è discreto.

I prodotti che soddisfano uno scopo sono come strumenti. Non sono né oggetti decorativi né opere d’arte. Il loro design deve quindi essere neutro e limitato, per lasciare spazio all’espressione personale dell’utente.

6 Il buon design è onesto.

Non rende un prodotto più innovativo, potente o prezioso di quanto non lo sia realmente. Non tenta di manipolare il consumatore con promesse che non è in grado di mantenere.

7 Il buon design dura a lungo.

Evita di essere alla moda e quindi non sembra mai fuori moda. A differenza del design alla moda, dura molti anni, anche nella società di oggi, abituata all’usa e getta.

8 Il buon design è curato fin nei minimi dettagli.

Nulla deve essere arbitrario o lasciato al caso. La cura e la precisione nel processo di progettazione dimostrano rispetto nei confronti del consumatore.

9 Il buon design è ecologico.

Il design contribuisce in modo significativo alla conservazione dell’ambiente. Consente di risparmiare risorse e di ridurre al minimo l’inquinamento fisico e visivo per tutto il ciclo di vita del prodotto.

Braun Design is environmentally friendly.

10 Il buon design è il più piccolo possibile.

Meno, ma meglio, perché si concentra sugli aspetti essenziali e i prodotti non sono gravati da elementi inutili. Un ritorno alla purezza, un ritorno alla semplicità.

Take a video tour through the Braun Museum in Kronberg, near Frankfurt.

The Braun Museum showcases the great history of Braun with many insides and interesting facts and figures about products from the past and today.

Costruiamo una vita migliore: allora, adesso e in futuro.

1953 | Fabbrica Braun

Frullatore Braun Multimix

Negli anni ’50 il milkshake divenne un caposaldo del mondo occidentale, in parte grazie al Multimix, il frullatore all’avanguardia con un mixer rimovibile in vetro. Taglia gli ingredienti con un'efficacia industriale. Ancora ampiamente in uso oggi.

Braun Multimix Blender – Braun Factory 1953

1957 | Gerd Alfred Müller

KM3/31

Un frullatore, o “processatore di alimenti” come veniva chiamato, ha dato origine a una categoria di prodotti nuovi: i “robot da cucina”. Con il suo design minimalista, semplice e utile, è uno dei prodotti industriali più influenti di sempre.

1963 | Reinhold Weiss

KSM 1/11

Non esiste design più minimalista di questo: un macinino per caffè dalla struttura così mirata che è sufficiente un solo pulsante centrale per farlo funzionare. Bastava schiacciare con un dito per avere chicchi finemente macinati.

1963 | Reinhold Weiss

HT 2

Il design elegante e ridotto di questo tostapane ha ispirato il rinomato artista Richard Hamilton che su questo design ha addirittura basato una delle sue opere (intitolata giustamente “Toaster”). Non da ultimo, tostava il pane alla perfezione.

1972 | Florian Seiffert

KF 20

With a stacked, vertical design that resembled a water tower, the KF 20 was known as the Aromaster. Instantly recognizable for its unconventional shape, this coffee maker added a touch of the extraordinary to everyday morning filter coffee.

1972 | Jürgen Greubel, Dieter Rams

MPZ 22

This electric juicer, also known as the citromatic, was a dependable and incredibly easy-to-clean staple of kitchens across the world for decades. It took over two decades before Braun decided an update to the original design was due.

1981 | Ludwig Littmann

MR 6

A precursor of the more sophisticated MR 500, the MR 6 was sturdy and tough, meaning it could blend foods that other products couldn't handle. An important stepping stone on the way to perfecting the handheld blender.

1984 | Hartwig Kahlcke

KF 40

This coffeemaker was somehow controversial within Braun, being made of cost-efficient polypropylene rather than sturdier polycarbonate, Braun's go-to plastic. Hence the KF 40's corrugated surface states a design solution that won over Dieter Rams.

2016 | Markus Orthey, Ludwig Littmann

MultiQuick 9

An all-round food blender that condensed the functionalities of devices many times its size into a simple, handheld 'wand'. The definition of reduced design: compact, yet powerful.

A brief story about the history of Braun household products.

Today’s success of Braun’s household products is based on a company history full of excellent science and thoughtful development. We have brought together a few of Braun’s leading light creations, from the very beginning until today. Even more time travelling and a thrilling online experience awaits if you visit the Virtual Braun Museum.

Visit the Museum

Food Preparation

Cooking

Breakfast

Garment Care

Get inspired

Support

Food Preparation

Cooking

Breakfast

Garment Care

Get inspired

Support

Braun.
Designed for what matters.

We believe that good design can make lives better - 100 years ago, now and in the future.

From inventor’s workshop to global brand

Ingenious.

Helpful.

Visionary.

Less, but better.

Innovative.

Today.

Braun produced the KM 3 food processor for more than three decades.

I 10 principi del buon design di Dieter Rams

Take a video tour through the Braun Museum in Kronberg, near Frankfurt.

Costruiamo una vita migliore: allora, adesso e in futuro.

A brief story about the history of Braun household products.

Kitchen

Ironing

Collections

Service

Search Quick Links

Food Preparation

Cooking

Breakfast

Garment Care

Get inspired

Support

Food Preparation

Cooking

Breakfast

Garment Care

Get inspired

Support

Braun.Designed for what matters.

We believe that good design can make lives better - 100 years ago, now and in the future.

From inventor’s workshop to global brand

Ingenious.

Helpful.

Visionary.

Less, but better.

Innovative.

Today.

Braun produced the KM 3 food processor for more than three decades.

I 10 principi del buon design di Dieter Rams

Take a video tour through the Braun Museum in Kronberg, near Frankfurt.

Costruiamo una vita migliore: allora, adesso e in futuro.

A brief story about the history of Braun household products.

Kitchen

Ironing

Collections

Service

Europe

Africa & Middle East

Americas

Asia - Pacific

International

Braun.
Designed for what matters.