Rams describes colour as a functional element rather than decoration. In Braun hi-fi equipment, it was used selectively to distinguish controls, signals or other information that users needed to notice. Restricting colour helped preserve a clear visual hierarchy, making significant elements easier to identify.

The quotation reflects Rams’s broader preference for restraint in product design. By avoiding unnecessary colour, designers can reduce visual competition between elements and allow important information to stand out more clearly. Colour therefore becomes part of the product’s communication system rather than an independent stylistic feature.

This approach connects aesthetics with usability. A restrained visual language can make an object appear more coherent while also helping users understand how it works. The principle remains relevant to physical products and digital interfaces, where colour is often used most effectively when its meaning is consistent and its application limited.