Objectifiedairs on PBS station in the US on Tuesday , November 24 , as part of theIndependent Lensseries . Ihighly recommendthat you specify your DVR to memorialize this film , if you ’re concerned in : documentaries , computers , how thing are made , how things influence , or why some toothpicks have that little sculpted orbitual part on one end but are pointy on the other . In other parole , I recommend it for everyone .
Objectifiedis a limited documentary : it ’s basically about nerds , but posh 1 , and definitely saucy ones . It ’s about the particular variety of nerd who designs objects ( generally know as an " industrial house decorator " ) – object like your can opener , motorcar door handgrip , reckoner computer mouse , light bulb , soup-strainer , the chairwoman you ’re sitting in right now , and so on . Whether we realize it or not , all of the serviceman - made object we apply are designed by somebody . Some are plan better than others – and by this , I mean they make for better , not just " calculate cool " or " are high - technical school , " which are often confused for good design . Objectifiedis a documentary about those the great unwashed who design object , but it ’s alsoaboutobjects themselves , filled with small examples of interesting design elements that I had never moot – flourish that make something work well or be more delicious to the someone using it .
To get back to the toothpick example I hinted at in the beginning , inObjectifiedit is explain why sure toothpicks have one pointy oddment and the other end rounded , with two circular bulges . I had always assumed this was strictly decorative . in reality , it twist out that the orbitual - sculpt - end can be snapped off and used as a toothpick tray , so you may reuse the toothpick , roost the pointy oddment on the lilliputian tray ( see a photo here ) . How could I have used toothpicks my intact life and not know this ? Well , if you think that ’s handy , just guess an 60 minutes of piffling tidbit like that from intriguer who brought you all sorts of day-after-day objects – like the OXO Good Grips folks , designers from Apple Computer , Dieter Rams ( famed designer for Braun in the mid twentieth century ) , and many many more .
Objectifiedis by the same movie maker , Gary Hustwit , who madeHelveticaa few years back – that was a film about fount and those who create them . According to Hustwitthere ’s a third documentary coming , to finish a trilogy of documentaries about design . I can hardly hold back . Here ’s the trailer forObjectified , which vent tomorrow night ( Tuesday , November 24 ) on PBS stations on theIndependent Lensprogram . If you ’re setting your DVR to memorialize it , search forIndependent Lensand you ’ll be more likely to find the programme .
Note : the version ofObjectifiedshown onIndependent Lenshas been edit down by 15 minutes to fit the available broadcast slot . If you want to see the rest of it , hire the DVD , which is available now . Also , if you have Netflix , Hustwit ’s filmHelveticais currently uncommitted for on - requirement streaming .
