A film by Gary Hustwit, director of Helvetica.

“Objectified is a feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them. It’s a look at the creativity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets. It’s about the designers who re-examine, re-evaluate and re-invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis. It’s about personal expression, identity, consumerism, and sustainability.”

Screening in DC sometime soon, otherwise the next closest is at Drexel in Philly on May 11, 2009.

This film is probably based on our pre-recession ideology of irrational exuberance which should make it interesting to see the film’s outlook on the future of industrial design. Is the film already outdated? Either way the study of consumer’s choices and habits are important and worthy of exploration.

I am not a fan of consumerism but I love design. Unfortunately, or fortunately for designers, our economy is based on consumerism and the design and creation of new and better things. Why do we constantly feel the need to have the newest and latest? Is it the deceptive marketing? Our envy or our friends? Or is it our intrinsic nature to create? There has to be a better way of doing things.

Any ideas?

Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, photography credit Jens Passoth

Magno cube wooden radio 4 band, photo credit Singgih S. Kartono

Designed by Guardian design team, lead by Michael Robinson