Design Documentaries
by vabaskin | created - 08 Jan 2015 | updated - 08 Jan 2015 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Design Is One: The Vignellis (2012)
Not Rated | 86 min | Documentary, Biography
A documentary on two of the world's most influential designers -- Lella and Massimo Vignelli.
Directors: Kathy Brew, Roberto Guerra | Stars: Paola Antonelli, Barry Bergdoll, Michael Bierut, Peter Eisenman
Votes: 158 | Gross: $0.02M
2. Eames: The Architect & The Painter (2011)
Not Rated | 85 min | Documentary, Biography
The relationship between Charles Eames and his wife Ray ignited a burst of design ingenuity whose impact on the world can still be felt over half a century later.
Directors: Jason Cohn, Bill Jersey | Stars: Charles Eames, Ray Eames, James Franco, Jeannine Oppewall
Votes: 1,148 | Gross: $0.15M
3. Visual Acoustics (2008)
Unrated | 83 min | Documentary
Narrated by Dustin Hoffman, VISUAL ACOUSTICS celebrates the life and career of Julius Shulman, the worldÕs greatest architectural photographer, whose images brought modern architecture to the American mainstream.
Director: Eric Bricker | Stars: Frances Anderton, Wim de Wit, Beth Edwards Harris, Frank Escher
Votes: 688 | Gross: $0.10M
4. Frank Lloyd Wright (1998)
TV-PG | 146 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A biography of the life and work of the American architect.
Directors: Ken Burns, Lynn Novick | Stars: Edward Herrmann, Philip Bosco, Julie Harris, Sab Shimono
Votes: 916
5. American Look (1958)
27 min | Documentary, Short
A tribute to the American designer presented by Chevrolet. The fist half of this film is a collage of 1950's American design from appliances to architecture, the second half follows the ... See full summary »
Directors: W.F. Banes, John Thiele | Star: Hunter Phillips
Votes: 40
6. Herb & Dorothy (2008)
Not Rated | 87 min | Documentary, Biography
Herb and Dorothy Vogel redefine what it means to be an art collector.
Director: Megumi Sasaki | Stars: Paula Antebi, Will Barnet, Robert Barry, Lynda Benglis
Votes: 890 | Gross: $0.19M
7. Bill Cunningham New York (2010)
Not Rated | 84 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A profile of the noted and extraordinarily cheerful veteran New York City fashion photographer.
Director: Richard Press | Stars: Bill Cunningham, Anna Wintour, Michael Kors, Editta Sherman
Votes: 5,668 | Gross: $1.51M
8. Milton Glaser: To Inform and Delight (2008)
Not Rated | 73 min | Documentary, Biography
Profiles Milton Glaser (1929- ), America's foremost graphic designer: designer of the iconic "I [heart] N.Y." logo, teacher, and humanitarian. Interviews with Glaser are arranged to take ... See full summary »
Director: Wendy Keys
Votes: 241
9. Vidal Sassoon: The Movie (2010)
PG | 90 min | Documentary
Vidal Sassoon is more than just a hairdresser-he's a rock star, an artist, a craftsman who "changed the world with a pair of scissors." With the geometric, Bauhaus-inspired hairdos he ... See full summary »
Director: Craig Teper | Stars: Beverly Adams, Elgin Charles, Grace Coddington, Michael Gordon
Votes: 268 | Gross: $0.09M
10. Typeface (2009)
Not Rated | 59 min | Documentary
Charting the intersection between rural America and contemporary graphic design.
Director: Justine Nagan
Votes: 216
11. Objectified (2009)
Not Rated | 75 min | Documentary
A feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them.
Director: Gary Hustwit | Stars: Paola Antonelli, Chris Bangle, Andrew Blauvelt, Erwan Bouroullec
Votes: 3,719 | Gross: $0.01M
12. Helvetica (2007)
Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary
A documentary about typography, graphic design, and global visual culture.
Director: Gary Hustwit | Stars: Manfred Schulz, Massimo Vignelli, Rick Poynor, Wim Crouwel
Votes: 8,167 | Gross: $0.20M
13. Cutie and the Boxer (2013)
R | 82 min | Documentary, Biography
This candid New York love story explores the chaotic 40-year marriage of famed boxing painter Ushio Shinohara and his wife, Noriko. Anxious to shed her role as her overbearing husband's assistant, Noriko finds an identity of her own.
Director: Zach Heinzerling | Stars: Ushio Shinohara, Noriko Shinohara, Alex Shinohara, Ethan Cohen
Votes: 4,736 | Gross: $0.20M
14. Alles Moet Nieuw - Piet Zwart (2012)
75 min | Documentary
Everything Must Change - Piet Zwart is a documentary about the influential Dutch designer Piet Zwart.
Director: Sherman De Jesus | Stars: Piet Zwart, Kees Broos, Wim Crouwel, Jacob Derwig
Votes: 7
15. Urbanized (2011)
Not Rated | 85 min | Documentary
A documentary about the design of cities, which looks at the issues and strategies behind urban design and features some of the world's foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers.
Director: Gary Hustwit | Stars: Amanda M. Burden, Rem Koolhaas, Norman Foster, Jan Gehl
Votes: 2,304
16. Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child (2010)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary
Director Tamra Davis pays homage to her friend in this definitive documentary but also delves into Basquiat as an iconoclast. His dense, bebop-influenced neoexpressionist work emerged while... See full summary »
Director: Tamra Davis | Stars: Jean Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel, Larry Gagosian, Bruno Bischofberger
Votes: 2,482 | Gross: $0.26M
17. How to Make a Book with Steidl (2010 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary
In this age of digital media, Gerhard Steidl stands as one of the few remaining publishers to maintain an unwavering commitment to the quality and craftsmanship of the printed book.
Directors: Jörg Adolph, Gereon Wetzel | Stars: Robert Adams, Robert Frank, Günter Grass, Karl Lagerfeld
Votes: 163
18. Just Like Being There (2012)
Not Rated | 81 min | Documentary
In the gig poster community, creating artwork is more than just a career - it is a way of life. These artists are at the forefront of an expansion of the gig poster genre. In a community ... See full summary »
Director: Scout Shannon | Stars: Daniel Danger, Germain Lussier, Jay Ryan, Kevin Tong
Votes: 148
19. Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010)
R | 87 min | Documentary, Comedy, Crime
Following the style of some of the world's most prolific street artists, an amateur filmmaker makes a foray into the art world.
Director: Banksy | Stars: Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, Space Invader, Debora Guetta
Votes: 68,789 | Gross: $3.29M
20. Linotype: The Film (2012)
Not Rated | 75 min | Documentary, History, News
Called the "Eighth Wonder of the World" by Thomas Edison, the Linotype revolutionized printing and society. The film tells the surprisingly emotional story of the people connected to the Linotype and how it impacted the world.
Director: Douglas Wilson | Stars: Matthew Carter, Ray DesChamps, Elln Hagney, Allan Haley
Votes: 248
21. Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry (2012)
R | 91 min | Documentary
A documentary that chronicles artist and activist Ai Weiwei as he prepares for a series of exhibitions and gets into an increasing number of clashes with the Chinese government.
Director: Alison Klayman | Stars: Ai Weiwei, Dan Ai, Lao Ai, Lee Ambrozy
Votes: 4,527 | Gross: $0.53M
22. Between the Folds (2008)
G | 56 min | Documentary
Depicts a cast of fine artists and eccentric scientists (from MIT and NASA) who have devoted their lives to the unlikely medium of modern origami. Through their determination to reinterpret... See full summary »
Director: Vanessa Gould | Stars: Erik D. Demaine, Martin L. Demaine, Vincent Floderer, Miri Golan
Votes: 877
23. Art & Copy (2009)
TV-PG | 89 min | Documentary
ART & COPY is a powerful new film about advertising and inspiration. Directed by Doug Pray (SURFWISE, SCRATCH, HYPE!), it reveals the work and wisdom of some of the most influential ... See full summary »
Director: Doug Pray | Stars: Mary Wells, Dan Wieden, Hal Riney, Lee Clow
Votes: 1,850
24. Sign Painters (2013)
Not Rated | 81 min | Documentary
At a time when most American cityscapes are dominated by computer created signage, Sign Painters takes a close look at the past, present, and hopeful future of the hand paint sign industry in the USA.
Directors: Faythe Levine, Sam Macon
Votes: 141
25. Style Wars (1983 TV Movie)
Not Rated | 69 min | Documentary, Music
A documentary that exposes the rich growing subculture of hip-hop that was developing in New York City in the late '70s and early '80s, specifically focusing on graffiti art and breakdancing.
Director: Tony Silver | Stars: Demon, Kase 2, Eric Haze, D. 5
Votes: 3,296
26. The Visual Language of Herbert Matter (2011)
78 min | Documentary
Feature length documentary film about graphic designer, photographer and visual artist Herbert Matter.
Director: Reto Caduff | Stars: Robert Frank, Massimo Vignelli, John Cohen, Steven Heller
Votes: 20
27.
American Masters (1985– )
Episode:
Sketches of Frank Gehry
(2005)
PG-13 | 83 min | Documentary, Biography, History
A look at the life and work of the renown architect.
Director: Sydney Pollack | Stars: Frank Gehry, Sydney Pollack, Julian Schnabel, Charles Arnoldi
Votes: 1,616 | Gross: $0.44M
28. Beautiful Losers (2008)
Not Rated | 90 min | Documentary, Music
This documentary follows the lives and careers of a collective group of Do-it-yourself artists and designers who inadvertently affected the art world.
Directors: Aaron Rose, Joshua Leonard | Stars: Julian Bennett Holmes, Thomas Campbell, Shepard Fairey, Jo Jackson
Votes: 1,423 | Gross: $0.06M
29. The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story (1996)
Not Rated | 86 min | Documentary, Biography
The childhood, adolescence, and incredible adult years of Al Hirshfeld, celebrated creator of thousands of line drawings of famous people - many in the entertainment industry - over a span of more than sixty years.
Director: Susan Warms Dryfoos | Stars: Julie Andrews, Lauren Bacall, Carol Channing, Cy Coleman
Votes: 436
30. How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr Foster? (2010)
Not Rated | 78 min | Documentary, Biography
The film traces the rise of one of the world's premier architects, Norman Foster, and his unending quest to improve the quality of life through design.
Directors: Carlos Carcas, Norberto López Amado | Stars: Norman Foster, Deyan Sudjic
Votes: 745 | Gross: $0.01M
31.
Independent Lens (1999– )
Episode:
The Cool School
(2008)
Not Rated | 86 min | Documentary
The Cool School is an object lesson in how to build an art scene from scratch and what to avoid in the process. The film focuses on the seminal Ferus Gallery, which groomed the LA art scene... See full summary »
Director: Morgan Neville | Stars: Eve Babitz, John Baldessari, Larry Bell, Billy Al Benston
Votes: 7
32. Beauty Is Embarrassing (2012)
Not Rated | 88 min | Documentary, Biography, Comedy
A documentary on the life and current times of artist Wayne White.
Director: Neil Berkeley | Stars: Wayne White, Mimi Pond, Paul Reubens, Mark Mothersbaugh
Votes: 1,223
33. Future by Design (2006)
Not Rated | 86 min | Documentary, Sci-Fi
Future by Design shares the life and far-reaching vision of Jacque Fresco, considered by many to be a modern day Da Vinci. Peer to Einstein and Buckminster Fuller, Jacque is a self-taught ... See full summary »
Director: William Gazecki | Stars: William Gazecki, Jacque Fresco, Larry King, Roxanne Meadows
Votes: 1,443
34. Inge Druckrey: Teaching to See (2012)
37 min | Documentary, Short
Director: Andrei Severny | Stars: Ken Carbone, Inge Druckrey, Kris Holmes, Nancy Mayer
Votes: 30
35. Clean Lines, Open Spaces (2012 TV Movie)
56 min | Documentary
"Clean Lines, Open Spaces" looks at mid-century modern architecture in Arkansas and how the post war building boom brought modern design to the state. Talking to home owners, architects and... See full summary »
Director: Mark Wilcken
Votes: 8
36. The Successor of Kakiemon (2012)
49 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama
Handing down the craft and beliefs from generation to generation for over 400 years can be a heavy weight. This unique story follows a modern-day Japanese family that has transformed ... See full summary »
Director: Suzanne Raes
Votes: 14
37. PressPausePlay (2011)
Not Rated | 80 min | Documentary, Music
A documentary that explores how the digital revolution of the last decade has unleashed creativity and talent of people in an unprecedented way.
Directors: David Dworsky, Victor Köhler | Stars: Apparat, Ólafur Arnalds, Scott Belsky, Robyn Carlsson
Votes: 1,519
38. Print the Legend (2014)
100 min | Documentary, Biography, Drama
Follows the people racing to bring the hot new 3D printing technology to your home, documenting the "Macintosh Moment" of this revolution and exploring what it takes to live the American Dream.
Directors: Luis Lopez, Clay Tweel | Stars: Chris Anderson, Bruce Bradshaw, Craig Broady, Bill Buel
Votes: 2,050
39. Tim's Vermeer (2013)
PG-13 | 80 min | Documentary, History
Inventor Tim Jenison seeks to understand the painting techniques used by Dutch Master Johannes Vermeer.
Director: Teller | Stars: Tim Jenison, Penn Jillette, Martin Mull, Philip Steadman
Votes: 8,556 | Gross: $1.66M
40. The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo (2005 TV Movie)
90 min | Documentary
A documentary feature about the life of the Mexican painter Frida Kahlo.
Director: Amy Stechler | Stars: Heinz Berggruen, Estela de Bassagoda, Lila Downs, Arturo Estrada
Votes: 202
41. Coast Modern (2012)
Not Rated | 56 min | Documentary, History
A core group of architects embraced the West Coast from Vancouver to LA with its particular geography and values and left behind a legacy of inspired dwellings. Today, architects celebrate the influence established by their predecessors.
Directors: Mike Bernard, Gavin Froome
Votes: 85
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