Objectified

Objectified, Gary Hustwit's most recent film focuses on the interactions between manufactured objects and people within a society. This feature-length documentary presents great insight into the interaction of content and form as illustrated by the objects which people interact with in their daily lives.

Successful design relies on an understanding of people and their needs. While the form may be abstract, it still must have a function and purpose which will benefit individuals or the society. Though humans demand that an object serves their needs, there is also an emotional relationship between people and their objects. The film presents the idea behind the "emotional authenticity of objects" as exemplified by the way in which humans have a tendency to see faces in the design of the front of their cars. The car is interpreted as an avatar, a means of creating an image for an audience and thus, a car reflects an individual's impression of themselves. It is this emotional and functional relationship between people and their objects which is truly highlighted in this film.

In addition there is also a great sense of social responsibility in response to the demand for sustainability. By nature, design is always changing to meet the needs of the present and anticipate what is next. This constant replacement of previous versions only leads to more and more objects ending up in the landfills. It is crucial then that designers discover means of recycling materials, reducing waste and creating objects with consideration to the future of the planet. Thus, the content of a piece is expected to meet the needs of individuals while the form must reflect responsibility to humanity and the environment as a whole.