Abstract: The Art of Design is a documentary series that explores the creative process of designers across different disciplines. Each episode profiles a different designer, from Nike shoe designer Tinker Hatfield to stage designer Es Devlin to illustrator Christoph Niemann. The series is a celebration of the creative process and the people who shape the world around us.
What makes Abstract special is its focus on how designers think. The series gets inside the creative process, showing how ideas are generated, refined, and executed. The designers talk about their failures as honestly as their successes, revealing the persistence and resilience required to create at the highest level.
The visual style of the series is itself a design statement. The animation sequences that illustrate design concepts, the cinematography that captures the designers' workspaces, and the overall aesthetic reflect the creativity the series documents. Each episode feels like a designed object, not just a documentary.
The range of disciplines is impressive: graphic design, architecture, interior design, automotive design, and more. Each episode reveals how design thinking can be applied to any field, and how the best design is invisible — it just works, and makes life better.
Abstract is essential for anyone interested in creativity, whether as a practitioner or an admirer. It's a show about the people who make the world more beautiful and functional.