Dieter Rams 6 - Good Design is Unobtrusive

Dieter Rams
Ten Principles for Good Design

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#6 

Good Design is Unobtrusive

Product fulfilling a purpose are like tools.  They  are neither decorative objects nor works of art.  Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained in order to leave room for the user's self expression.

Steel Wok

This principle gave me pause for thought because of the addition of the terms, "neutral and restrained in order to leave room for the user's self-expression".  Finally after considering several items, I decided to use a Chinese wok as an example of the principal.  A wok has absolutely nothing extra added.  Everything has a purpose.  Curved high sides and thin carbon steel that heats quickly are perfect for Chinese cooking.  From stir-frying, braising, simmering soups, deep frying, to frying an egg -- all can be done with this one simple item.  The only change from the traditional wok is a slightly flattened bottom to better fit modern stoves.

Round without any decoration and with two simple handles, that's it.  With a wok, everything depends on the use and skill of the cook -- the ultimate self-expression. With proper care, the wok will ultimately develop a non-stick patina. Entire books have been written on the care and use of a wok, the most recent being, Breath of a Wok, by Grace Young.  After I photographed this wok, I began to appreciate its simple form and refined design even more.