.Objectified by Gary Hustwit (documentary)

(reflection on society's complex relationship with manufactured products; what can we learn about who we are and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves)

Who we are

We often surround ourselves by objects that identify us; these objects fit so seamlessly into our world, we are unaware how greatly it affects our lives and how complex the relationship is. We never consider the process behind the designs and how the product was created. According to Dieter Rams, German industrial designer:

"People understand things positively if things are clear and understandable. Good design is innovative, good design makes a product useful, good design is aesthetic, good design will make a product understandable, good design is honest, good design is unobtrusive, good design is long-lasting, good design is consistent in every detail, good design is environmentally friendly, good design is as little design as possible."

These 10 principles to good design encompass every single design aspect in that if a product design considered all the principles, it would provide the user with a satisfying & stimulating experience. The complexity of the experience is that the product's use is continued like a silent connection, it works so efficiently it requires unconscious effort from the user. These products include mass manufactured every day products like the Apple peeler, post-it note, toothbrush, toothpick and etc. These products are widely used and are commonly found in most homes, each product has individual characters giving individual elements to its use. We give objects different layers of meaning through history of use. There are different contexts, stories, habits, uses, feelings and emotions. Whether the object becomes a family heirloom or is subconsciously used on a daily basis, we develop complex relationship with these products that reflect our emotional energy and greatly impact on our lives.

Who we want to be

As designers we are motivated to design solutions. The dissatisfaction with things that don't exist inspires use to design a solution by adapting current products. The ideal product is something that is new, worth keeping and that won't out date. We generally design for mass production, which allows us to connect with and reach a wider audience. However I agree with Rob Walker's (author & columnist of NY Times) comment, "the real audience is ourselves; person speaking to when choosing design is the statement to self about yourself 'I am that guy' ". We are connecting with the world through expression of self. Design acts as a medium to create things and through mass production there is mass communication. We are communicating how we would want to use the product ourselves subsequently creating solutions for the generally population and resulting in "making effect and change in an uncomfortable world". (Karim Rashid, NY designer). I think mass production has supported the growth of pop culture as well designed products become more attainable to a wider population, spreading the look of the "now" or "it".