On Design Documentaries
Since early years Discovery and National Geographic have been my favourite channels… And then I was introduced to the world of design documentaries in 2010 with the film Helvetica by Gary Hustwit. Ever since then I have been collecting (first CDs/DVDs and now on various OTT platforms) some of the best design documentaries ever created.
Watching these have been a constant source of entertainment and inspiration. It has helped in widening my perspective of Design as a field, career and lifestyle. These documentaries helped increase my vocabulary and knowledge on the subject which makes for far more interesting conversations with other folks who share similar interests.
Here are the top 5 that I have enjoyed.
Helvetica | Gary Hustwit
Helvetica is a feature-length documentary about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It is a typeface I fell in love with, and like many of my brethren, used unabashedly in all possible works as an early designer.
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/helvetica3
Objectified | Gary Hustwit
Objectified had a lasting impression on me when I first viewed it in 2011. It features Jony Ive (Apple), Dieter Rams (Braun, also my favourite designer and a long time role model), Chris Bangle (BMW), David Kelly & Tim Brown (IDEO) and 17 others. It is a brilliant documentary that features very high in all the ‘top 10’ lists of documentaries on Design.
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/objectified
Rams | Gary Hustwit
Dieter Rams has been my personal inspiration and I look up to him ever since I first read his 10 commandments on design. I became extremely curious about this German industrial designer and fell in love with his designs for Braun and Vitsoe. Dieter Rams designs have inspired and continue to inspire so many brands including Apple. The documentary talks about his journey and his thoughts on design.
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ramsfilm
Eames : The architect and the Painter | Jason Cohn, Bill Jersey
The “Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman” has been a piece of furniture that I have forever longed for long before I pursued design education or knew about the Eames couple (I hope to get an original piece one day) It had caught my eye in the sitcom Frasier. That is the power of the design duo Charles and Ray Eames. They made good design accessible. They were also instrumental in setting up NID — the first design college in India. Their India Report holds a place of pride on my bookshelf.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRElKUXH4VU
Design Disruptors | InVision
The future of business is being written by companies and products that — intentionally or not — shake billion dollar industries. In design disruptors, enter the world of 15+ industry-toppling companies — valued at more than $1 trillion dollars combined — with one unifying secret advantage: the transformative power of design. ‘Design disruptors’ reveals a never-before-seen perspective on the design approaches of these companies and how they are overtaking billion dollar industries through design
Some other honourable mentions that I’ve enjoyed:
Urbanized | Gary Hustwit
Design Is One: The Vignellis | Kathy Brew, Roberto Guerra
Design & Thinking | Mu-Ming Tsai
Abstract S01E01 — Christof Niemann : Illustration Design | Netflix
Abstract S02E04 — Cas Holman : Design for Play | Netflix
Exit Through the Giftshop | Banksy
