The ANTIDESIGN

My Des001 Class watched the film, Objectified today in class. This is a documentary style movie with interviews with designers, clips of the design process, and commentary on design, objects, and consumerism. While this movie is analyzing design as it relates to the objects we use, we were watching and analyzing the movie itself as it relates to design.

The incredible design intention of a Japanese toothpick

Erwan and Ronan Bouroullec in Objectified

One of the major things I noticed about the format of this film is the consistent use of zoom as they filmed closeups of everyday objects. This had the effect of forcing the viewer to see these objects in a new way. This technique is often used is cinema and photography when the goal is to present the ordinary and make a statement with it. This is happening throughout the movie while voices of design go on in the background describing their concepts, sharing their experiences with objects, and discussing design's effect on society.

This brings to mind the work of Tom Friedman using disposable everyday materials, as well as the ground-breaking conceptual artwork of Duchamp. These artists made their audience look at objects in a new way, they were displayed in such a way that they became something that it wasn't before, and it was important.

Tom Friedman 1995 (toothpicks)

Fountain - Duchamp 1917

When Duchamp's audience got a look at his piece, "Fountain", there was alot of debate around whether or not it was art. There was the question of why we should be looking at this object. For this piece, the question answers itself; it is art because the form and content of the piece make you question what is art. Objectified is making us question design, to look at our everyday objects in an analytical way and see the value in having well designed products.

This movie has the first impression of being a call for respect for designers, and a portrayal of their crucial role in consumerism, but I think this film's real message and true value to the people who watch it, is to shed light on the fact that we as consumers do deserve to have comfortable, effective, attractive, and well designed objects. After watching this movie, one can recognize that there is no room for these ineffective electronics or uncomfortable attire in society. As a designer, this speaks to me as a warning to be careful about what I'm putting out into the world, and to look for these objects and uses that have no well designed solutions, and do something about it. Even as a consumer, speaking up about painful potato peelers or uncomfortable chairs (to use the film's examples) can make a difference, which is inspiring.