Do you agree or disagree with any of the designers’ statements, why?
I agreed with almost all of the designer’s statements. None of them spoke about anything that caught me off guard or I didn’t agree with. The first thing that I agreed with was right off the bat, design editor Alice Rawsthorn mentioned how “almost everything is designed one way or another” at 4:12. I agree with this and I don’t feel that many other people see things this way. As a graphic design student, people often say to me “what can you do with that degree?” I love to tell people and make them realize that everything is design so they don’t think design is a dumb career choice anymore. Dieter Rams, former design director says that “Good design is long-lived” at 12:51. I agree with this statement. A lot of designs now are sold with the intention of having a shorter lifespan. Although these products are probably sold more because they are “trendier,” I truly think a good design is meant to last.
Has anything the designers said changed how you thought about design?
As I am still very new to being a design student, I am constantly learning more about it and beginning to think more from a designer’s view. Many of the designers made statements that truly made me change the way I think about design. The first is a statement by design curator Andrew Blauvelt. He explains at about 5:05 how a design may be used in different ways in different cultures and that there is a context that comes with a culture that makes the design makes sense. Also, Dan Formosa, responsible for design and research, said at 6:16 to look and design for the extremes on the user spectrum and everything else will fall in place. I would have never thought of this strategy but will take this advice when designing in the future. Jonathan Ive, senior vice president of industrial design, said something in his interview around 14:30 that made me realize that when we doubt or try to find solutions, even if it is in our mind, that we are designing. The last statement that changed the way I think about design is another one by Andrew Blauvelt. At 21:56 he says how the relationship to a Roomba is different. There is no human interaction relationship, but it is to the room it is cleaning. It was different for me to think like this. Before, I just assumed or didn’t really think that design could be made with no human interaction in mind. Overall, this documentary was very eye-opening for me in the way I see design.
Each designer interviewed for “Objectified” defined how they see Design, how would you define design and how has that definition changed?
The way I would define design is something that is made for the wants or needs of someone’s daily life. It should be easy to use and understand. The graphic designer in me also believes that everything should be very aesthetic, as well. A statement by Dieter Rams, former design director says that “Good design is long-lived” and I think this is true. To me, design should be creating something new, even if it is just an interface or surface-level change. I’m not sure that my definition of design has changed from this documentary, but my perspective definitely has. Watching it has made me more aware of how I deem a design as good or bad and how I see it in general.