10 documentaries to watch this weekend that will help inspire your designs

As makers, sometimes we need a break from making and to sit back and watch others create. I really enjoy watching well made documentaries, whether they be on art/the process of creating or simply tell a story that evokes emotion. A good documentary is something that gives me a break from my work but also inspires me to think about my work differently.

What can we learn from a really well designed documentary?

1. Different ways of storytelling
2. New ways of presenting visual content

Here are a few of my favorite documentaries streaming on Netflix and/or Amazon right now. Some of the documentaries have more of an art/design focus, while others are just extremely interesting and well shot and edited that I couldn't keep them off the list.

Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present

What I like most about Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present is Abramovic's dedication to her art and as you will see in the film it definitely moves others as well.

Finding Vivian Maier

Finding Vivian Maier is a gem I found on Netflix a few months ago. Maier is completely obsessed with taking photographs. Her photographs are stunning but no one in her life ever knew about her hobby or saw her work.

Iris

Iris is such a happy film. This woman knows design. She's witty, quirky, and everything I aspire to be in the future.

The 100 Years Show

The 100 Years Show is a short documentary on a painter who has finally been given the credit she so deserves. You'll hear about her entire journey as an artist and how her passion never faltered.

Holy Hell

Holy Hell is sort of a documentary about a cult (the best thing about it is the fact that the man filming it started his passion form film at the age of 13.) He's got this massive collection of film dating back to before the 80s and he uses it in this documentary to tell an amazing story about his life.

The Institute

The Institute is this crazy whirlwind of a documentary where parts of it are like a scavenger hunt/art project gone wrong. You have to see it to really get the full picture.

Twinsters

Twinsters is one of my all time favorite documentaries. It doesn't have to do with art but the story and visual effects are modern and so awesome. Pay attention to when the girls message each other and also some of the colors used in title screens.

Chef's Table

Chef's Table is the ultimate inspiring documentary(ies). There are several episodes. The key message in all of the episodes is to embrace failing. It didn't make me want to be a chef but it did make me want to embrace the creative process, including failure.

Indie Game

Indie Game is another one of my favorite documentaries. These people put their heart and soul into their games and the struggle is bittersweet.

Exit Through The Gift Shop

It's been awhile since I have seen Exit Through The Gift Shop. There is this larger than life character Thierry Guetta. You follow him on his journey in the street art community...and of course there is a lot about banksy.

-Mel