By Yonna Kuipers
There are two things that unite a nation more than anything: sports, and a new (Netflix) hit series. So if your country is not playing in the Six Nations, you might as well get behind this new documentary: Abstract (2017). It is an eight-part documentary focusing on different aspects of design. From architecture to shoes, graphic design to photography, and Ikea to Beyoncé, Abstract brings all facets of design and its designers to light.
Abstract is set up like most Netflix documentaries. It starts off with the subject of the episode talking about their work, or themselves, there are some artsy shots of their surroundings, the header is presented and then you dive in to the rest of the documentary. It worked for Chef’s Table, it worked for 13th, and so it also works for Abstract. What I find incredible about this series is that the designers all put their own spin on their episode. Making each episode their own 42 minute short film instead of a box standard documentary. It could have been very easy for the directors to take control over the creative process, but luckily for us they didn’t.
Abstract shows us not just the process the designers go through, it also provides us with a history of the designer. You won’t find sob stories of the tortured artist who has turned their life around and is now selling their soul to the corporate world, but instead, honest “how-I-got-here” stories. What this documentary also does is show the unsung heroes of design. I believe that sometimes we don’t quite realize how much work goes into a product before we’re presented with it. Take for example stage design: it can make or break a show, but we’re not consciously aware of the effort it takes to create the right design.
A great thing about this documentary series is that it doesn’t put design on a pedestal. It doesn’t make it godlike, or something only the gifted could attempt to created. Christoph Niemann, Tinker Hatfield, Es Devlin, Bjarke Ingels, Ralph Gilles, Paula Scher, Platon, and Ilse Crawford all make design attainable and realistic. Sure, some might work with world leaders or world famous artists, but they still visit their parents and bike to their offices.
Abstract is not the kind of documentary that you put on as background noise. It demands to be watched with your full attention. Not because of its flashy images or popping music, but because of its simple yet effective method of storytelling. I reckon that whether you’re into design or not, you will be after watching this. I certainly have a new-found respect for design and designers. And although it might not be your “thing”, I can ensure that you will end up feeling inspired.
Yonna Kuipers, Class of 2017, is a history and linguistics major from Schiedam, The Netherlands.
