“What is good design?” It’s probably the question that every designer has asked him or herself before.

Dieter Rams, a German industrial designer who is now 84 years old, set out the “10 Design Commandments” in the last century for the younger generation to follow; within these design rules lies his philosophy – “less is better.” This golden rule not only sums up his design achievements, including the classic Braun phonograph SK-4, the slide projector D45, and the Vitsœ 606 Universal locker system but also his profound impact on companies such as Apple, Muji, and other newcomers. In the 21st-century design world, his teachings still carry substantial influence.

“Helvetica,” “Objectified,” and “Urbanized,” a collection known as the “Design Trilogy,” was produced by Gary Hustwit, an independent filmmaker focused on the design world. Recently, he announced on Kickstarter that he will produce a personal documentary on Rams, and is hoping to raise $200,000 for project funding. His mid-June announcement drew immediate design industry support; his project reached his funding goal in less than a month.

Prior to his official Kickstarter announcement, Hustwit had been filming in Vistoe’s London office, and at Rams’ residence in Frankfurt for a year. Some of the footage can be seen in the trailer below. Like other Rams’ followers, Hustwit’s home is filled with the designer’s works. “I couldn’t believe there wasn’t already a great documentary about him (Rams),” he said. I suppose this speaks to the hearts of many of Rams’ fans. Apart from Ram’s subjective taste and stubbornness, Hustwit wanted to create this documentary because of Rams’ classic designs, his futuristic concepts, and his importance in the era of contemporary design. “That’s a big part of why he and I wanted to do the film,” Hustwit says. “There’s still so much that designers can learn from what he’s done.”