Modern life is lived by design, though most remain unaware of the fact. From the fonts of logos, signs and flyers, to the form and function of everyday items, and the planning and construction of cities, design is ubiquitous in contemporary society. In a trio of insightful documentaries, independent publisher turned filmmaker Gary Hustwit considers the evolution and impact of three branches of the craft: graphic, industrial and urban.
His journey began with the inviting, irreverent Helvetica (2007, 80 mins), delving into the realm of typography. Fifty years after typeface designer Max Miedinger and Haas Typefoundry head Eduard Hoffmann created a Swiss-inspired sans-serif font initially known as Neue Haas Grotesk, Hustwit charts the ideology and innovation that inspired Helvetica’s emergence, as well as its swift rise to prominence – and the resulting backlash – in the decades that followed.
Two years later, his solid sequel Objectified (2009, 75 mins) chronicled the rise of mass production and consumerism, delving into the design, manufacture, purchase and use of everyday items – toothbrushes, potato peelers, computers and cars included. Though each has become a routine object in western society, the revision and development required for a constant stream of new products is anything but; nor is the importance of usability and identity in commercial success.
The trilogy comes to a close with the meandering Urbanised (2011, 85 mins) as Hustwit evolves beyond the page and home to explore communal spaces. Commencing with the projection that 75% of the world’s population will live in cities by the year 2050, he embarks upon a tour of urban centres of varying sizes, locations, cultures and economies, yet all linked by the same issues of access, transport, history and development.
Scouring the globe to present the three aspects of design within an international environment, each documentary is constructed of two complementary components: interviews and contextual footage. Fluidly assembling a wealth of experts in each area – graphic designers and typographers, curators and industrial researchers, and city planners and government officials among them – the finessed films draw opinion and analysis from talking heads, while demonstrating each field of design in practise via precisely assembled, poignantly captured case studies from around the world.
With no detail too small to escape examination, and no topic too lofty to avoid an amusing spin, such an approach is effective in eliciting the interest of the informed while simultaneously appealing to audiences otherwise unfamiliar with design disciplines. Not only is the informative content conveyed in an engaging manner – courtesy of the apt selection of interview subjects – but the breadth and depth of the footage compiled subverts the ordinariness of signage, household objects and city blocks by pondering their mechanics, motivation and underlying meaning.
Enlightening in its exploration of the history of design, thoughtful when speculating on future advances, and educative in its dissection of the art form’s underlying principles, Hustwit’s Design Trilogy also excels in its contemplation of the consequences of design upon individuals. The impact design choices have upon designers is evident; the corresponding influence their creations have on the public is nothing short of fascinating. That Hustwit’s efforts inspire such reflection is a remarkable achievement, as is the elegance with which each film is composed. Whether seen individually or collectively, Urbanized, Objectified and Helvetica provide a definitive portrait of modern design that will alter the way audiences view the world around them.
Rating: 3 ½ stars out of 5
The Design Trilogy: Urbanized, Objectified and Helvetica
Director: Gary Hustwit
USA, 2007 – 2011
Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Melbourne
10 January – 3 February
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