Movies and shows every design aspirant must watch

Are you always amused by the creative industry? Are you the “artsy” friend in your friend group? Do you want to learn more about the design industry but feel like you do not have the right resources for it? If you answered “yes” to any one of these questions, then this collection of design centric movies and tv shows are your best fit! Be it comedy, romance or documentary, these movies and tv shows are going to be your educational/ inspirational guide when navigating through this fun and creative industry. We are pretty sure that these shows and movies will give you a taste of this fun-filled but also extremely challenging industry. By watching these shows and movies you will learn that succeeding in this industry is no bed of roses and that a lot of hard work, determination, grit and passion goes in for a person to thrive in this industry. We are dividing this blog into two parts, the first 3 movies and shows will be fashion centric and the last three will be design centric. Let us jump in without any further delays, shall we?

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

This is hands down one of the best movies to watch if you are into fashion. It is an American comedy drama film starring Meryl Streep (Miranda Priestly) and Anne Hathaway (Andrea Sachs) in the leading roles. The story revolves around Andy who lands a job as a personal assistant at Runway Magazine to one of the city’s biggest magazine editor's, the hard-bitten boss, Miranda. The film basically shows how Andy handles the criticism and humiliation of her ruthless boss at various occasions. Apart from the plot, the film is well known for its clothes, style and makeup. So if you are in the mood to watch a fashion inclusive comedy movie, then The Devil Wears Prada should be the perfect match.

Source: wikipedia

Cruella (2021)

If you are in the mood for some dark comedy, crime AND fashion then let me tell you, Cruella is the next or the first movie that you should be watching! This film is based on the character Cruella de Vil from the novel by Dodie Smith in 1956 - The Hundred and One Dalmatians. Starring Emma Stone, the actress who extraordinarily portrayed our favourite “Gwen Stacy'' in TASM, the film revolves around Estella Miller, a young and talented girl who wishes to make a name for herself in the fashion world. She then meets a pair of thieves who join in on her mischief and explores the path that will lead her to become the infamous fashion designer Cruella de Vil. The movie is clearly a hidden gem of humour, action and most importantly fashion, with the flamboyant costumes. If you want to feel inspired but also have fun, then I’d 10/10 recommend you to watch this film.

Source: google

Next in Fashion (2020)

The next one in our list is a very famous fashion reality show called “ Next in Fashion”. The show is basically a design competition where designers from around the globe compete for a chance to win $250,000 and to showcase their collection on a luxury fashion retailer site known as “Net-a-Porter”. Oh and also the show is hosted by Tan France and Alexa Chung, they are definitely one of my favourite hosts and they are another reason why the show was lively and energetic! The show was a biggest hit and now fans are anticipating the release of the second season! And guess who will also be hosting the second season? GIGI HADID!! Yes, that is absolutely crazy and by now it is obvious that fans are super pumped to see Gigi host. Apart from all of these, the main reason why you need to watch this show as a design aspirant is because you will not only learn about the glamourous part of the ramp but also about the hours of work each designer spends on their collection. You will learn new designs, novel ways of using a fabric, styling and of course how calm and composed each designer is under pressure. This show will 100% give you a taste of the industry, so if you are already inspired by this show then do not delay any further. Go to netflix and start the show right now!

Source: Google

Helvetica (2007)

Helvetica is an American feature-length documentary film about typography and graphic design, which primarily focuses on the eponymous typeface. The film encompasses the world of design, psychology, advertising and communication and helps us look at the words we come across in our day-to-day life with a clearer lens. The documentary revolves around how one typeface conveys a wider message and affects our culture in different and novel ways. The documentary was directed by Gary Hustwit and it is rated 7.2 out of 10 on IMDB. The documentary has gained wide recognition and has been showcased at over 200 film festivals, museums, design conferences and theatres across the globe. This proves how every design aspirant must watch the documentary as it will not only teach you about the type but also the value and meaning each design holds.

Source: Google

Why man creates (1968)

Why man creates is an animated short documentary which revolves around the nature of creativity. The documentary focuses on the creative process and the steps taken to achieve that process, which is then divided into eight sections.This documentary won the Oscar for Best documentary short subject. The documentary uses a wide range of mediums to portray the topic and those include animation, live action, narration, natural sounds and so much more. So if you are a person who is interested in the creative process and is always curious about the way we build up our creativity then this documentary is the right fit for you.

Source: google

Objectified (2009)

Following on from Helvetica, Gary Hustwit directed Objectified. This is also another feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with objects and the designer behind the product. The documentary records the creative processes of the world’s finest designers and their products and looks at how these objects play a crucial role in our day-to-day lives. The documentary provides us an insight on who makes all these things, why do they feel and look the way they do and how a good design can make all our lives better. If you are someone who is fascinated about the what and why’s of the design industry then this documentary will be your favourite.

Source: Google

To conclude

These are all the six must watch movies and tv shows every design aspirant must watch. These shows and movies will not help you boost your creative juice but also make you aware of the design and creative industry in particular. Hope you found this blog helpful!