Objectified is a feature-length documentary by Gary Hustwit, second part of the three-film “design trilogy”. The documentary places emphasis on the relationship of manufactured goods that we use everyday and how they are suited to their purpose. It provides a very broad yet deep look into what actually goes behind the scenes of making something, moreover the design aspect. The designers’ perspectives make the documentary very informative and show how each product has a purpose and if it doesn’t, it is simply bad designing. It’s about the designers who put in all the effort; observing, designing, testing, examining, evaluating and launching. For a layman, every new version of a product might just seem like an update but it’s an evolution. Evolution based on the designer’s responsiveness of the feedback from the interactions of the product and consumer.
Every object tells a story if you know how to read it. I think this line by Henry Ford really struck out for me. Design Curator, Andrew Blauvelt had a really simple object, a toothpick, but it spoke to me. I think when he explained how the serrated edge of a toothpick was used for indicating that is used and also as a holder, it blew my mind. I never knew about it, but it made me realize how a simple design like this could be so well thought about. Although this functionality of the edge may be used in Japanese culture, it exists now in most places in the world and when we neglect this design aspect, we are losing on so much meaning. Meaningful design always overpowers design that simply looks aesthetically pleasing unless that is its job. We live in a world where every other thing we look at is mass produced, in this consumerism we forget to appreciate the idea behind it. From the slanted dividers in the metro to a toothbrush, there is so much meaning put behind their design.
I also related to the process which Thomas Overthun, Design Director at IDEO, took for designing toothbrushes. For my previous assignment I actually selected a toothbrush for remodeling it and I understood how they put so many questions down first in order to generate ideas. I believe noting down the constraints will always result in a simplistic, untangled design that is free of all unnecessary elements. A guy in the documentary said, “What if we do not need a toothbrush all together?”. That might sound really random, but it makes sense, what if there was another way of doing the cleaning. Designs are usually more successful when challenges are taken up; functionality, adaptability, sustainability and longevity.
The documentary link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apYbSBBYawM
