Objectified

Response

Objectified

Each day, we as human beings use multiple items to help us get about our daily lives. With many of these items, we don't give a thought toward their construction, design, and the people behind them. 'Objectified' brings light on some of these people by sharing their stories and laying out the basics of many of their products and the concept of design itself.

The designers of “Objectified” are always looking for ways to improve on existing designs that very few people think about throughout the day. The film gives the example of a potato peeler. A woman requested one that would be easier to hold with her weaker hands. Designers turned to a similar product (bicycle handles) and related it to the peeler for it's easy grip. These may seem like simple feats, but they better the lives of many, in this case, the woman and others with special needs.

The documentary is heavily influenced by Dieter Rams and his work, “Ten Principles for Good Design”. Because of this, 'Objectified' puts a lot of focus on Apple Inc., which Rams himself had deemed the only company today that follows his principles. The principles list such things as innovation, environmental friendliness, aesthetics, and usefulness among others. Above all other principles in Rams' list, I feel that simplicity is especially built upon in this documentary. You can see many of the designers trying to keep their designs as simple as possible, talking about leaving this out and including this instead, etc.

This documentary applies to my chosen major of Illustration because I tend to draw many out-of-place things in my works and leave out that which I think is most important (I have this fear of drawing landscapes, backgrounds, and finer details). I always felt some sort of shame in my work. My artwork has always been a thing meant for my eyes only. I was never really aware as to why. Perhaps it was because I was under the impression that nobody would like my work or that I was the only one that could relate to it.

I came to realize that there are many who have similar if not the same style that I have. This might imply that my style of artwork is a popular one and one that is in high demand. Though this may be the case, I've struggled to make my artwork my own in one form or another. I used to be convinced that design was something that could only be improved. As Charles H. Duell said, “Everything that can be invented has been invented.”

This statement was made in 1899. As we can all see, many drastic changes and inventions have become commonplace in our society since that time. I believe that there is still so much more to be achieved; that there are many more things to be designed and innovated. I believe that I can do this through my art.