6 Design Documentaries That You Need To Watch

Discover amazing documentaries on design and designers, from Dieter Rams to the legacy of the Bauhaus movement

Javier Zamora is a graphic designer and founder and creative director of Plácida (@placida), a graphic design studio based in Granada, Spain, specializing in corporate brand identity and product packaging design. Javier and his team are dedicated to creating original visual and tactile experiences that go that extra mile.

Until 2012, Javier had been working in an architecture studio as an illustrator. Realizing that editorial design was his true passion, he quit his job and enrolled on a degree in graphic design, graduating in 2016.

“It’s never too late to go after your goals or whatever it is you truly want to do,” he insists. Javier then began working independently as a graphic designer. Since launching his own studio, Javier works mostly with startups and small businesses.

In this post, Javier, who teaches the Domestika course Stationery Creation for Branding Projects, lists six essential documentaries on design that you can’t miss.

Rams

An essential. The definitive documentary on Dieter Rams. It presents a portrait of one of the most influential designers of the moment, as well as a reflection on consumerism, sustainability, and the future of design.

For over fifty years, Dieter Rams has left an indelible mark on the field of product design and the world at large with his iconic work at Braun and Vitsoe. The objects Dieter has designed have touched the lives of millions of people––so many of us have had a Braun coffeemaker, shaver, stereo, calculator, speakers, or alarm clock. Or an Oral-B toothbrush. Or a Vitsoe 606 shelving system. Or any of the hundreds of other products Dieter has designed or overseen the design of.

Design Canada

This documentary follows a country’s transformation into a vibrant and multicultural society through the lens of graphic design. It is the first documentary chronicling the history of Canadian graphic design and how it shaped a nation and its people. What defines a national identity? Is it an anthem? A flag? Is it a logo or icon? How do these elements shape who we are? In the 60s and 70s, these questions were answered by an innovative group of Canadian designers, who used design to unify the nation.

Helvetica

A classic. Explore the proliferation of typography and how it affects our lives. Interviewees in Helvetica include some of the most illustrious and innovative names in the design world, including Erik Spiekermann, Matthew Carter, Massimo Vignelli, Wim Crouwel, Hermann Zapf, Neville Brody, Stefan Sagmeister, Michael Bierut, David Carson, Paula Scher, Jonathan Hoefler, Tobias Frere-Jones, Experimental Jetset, Michael C. Place, Norm, Alfred Hoffmann, Mike Parker, Bruno Steinert, Otmar Hoefer, Leslie Savan, Rick Poynor, and Lars Müller.

Objectified

This documentary talks about the complex relationship between manufactured objects and the people who design them. Through vérité footage and in-depth conversations, Objectified documents the creative processes of some of the world’s most influential product designers.

Architecture, art and design - 100 years of the Bauhaus

This documentary explores the legacy of the Bauhaus movement, which was founded in Weimar in 1919, and remains hugely relevant to this day. In 2019, the art school celebrated its 100-year anniversary, and to mark the occasion, planetfilm produced this three-part documentary series on behalf of Deutsche Welle.

The Man Who Designed Spain

José María Cruz Novillo redesigned the visual identity of Spain as the country transitioned to democracy. He designed many logos. However, his work does not end there…

Have you already seen any of the documentaries listed above? Do you have any other recommendations? Let us know your favorites in the comments!

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