Objectified in Form and Content

The idea of form and content coincides in relation to design in the film Objectified by Gary Hustwit. The title offers explains a lot in regards to the film. Consumers experience these objects that are created. In turn it creates a process of mass production. It offers each other’s support going into a design process. Form is how an object is created and what medium was used to create it while content is the overall story of the object. Form leads to content.

Objects presented in the movie ranges from Apple products, toothpicks, and abstract chairs. The designers wanted to illustrate the different forms using various materials. Not all objects are the same. They don’t have the same use; they have different stories from different perspectives, which is known as content. But the content may or not be universal depending on the person and cross-cultural context.

With objects being mass-produced and in high demand, we tend to lose the focus behind the content. The materials stay the same (sometimes dumbing down for cost productions) but everyone has their interpretation of what they want to do with the object. The object may have ephemeral qualities or is long lasting through decades. However, it changes year by year generation by generation.

There are many products produced in the world. Some are functional some are not. We can make anything into something as long as there is a story behind it. The drive behind creating an object leads to discovery of new things. We as designers should focus on what we can offer to the world. We shouldn’t take anything for granted. We need to be aware of why something was invented. Be open-minded.