Design Trilogy poster
Official Collection
Series Freshness: Apr 12, 2026

Design Trilogy

The Design Trilogy is the collective name of a series of three documentary films about design directed by film director Gary Hustwit.

3Movies
★ 7.4 Avg Rating

Design Trilogy Movies: Timeline & Franchise Overview

The Design Trilogy franchise spans roughly 4 years, featuring 3 interconnected films that build a shared narrative universe.

From its earliest installment to the most recent release, the series has expanded its world-building while introducing new characters and story arcs. Notable entries such as Urbanized demonstrate the franchise’s ability to maintain audience interest over time.

Franchise Quality Benchmark

Across all entries, the series holds an average audience rating of 7.3. While many long-running franchises experience declining reception, this series continues to deliver memorable cinematic moments.

Viewing Order Strategy

Most viewers prefer watching the films in release order, which reflects how audiences originally experienced the evolving story.

However, a chronological viewing order can provide deeper insight into the timeline of events within the Design Trilogy universe.

Timeline & Watch Order

We recommend watching the Design Trilogy franchise in the following order to fully experience the narrative expansion.

1
Helvetica

Helvetica

2007★ 7.2HIT

Helvetica is a feature-length independent film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture. It looks at the proliferation of one typeface (which ...

2
Objectified

Objectified

2009★ 7.2HIT

A feature-length documentary about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them....

3
Urbanized

Urbanized

2011★ 7.4HIT

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, pla...

Common Questions about Design Trilogy

How many movies are in the Design Trilogy?

There are currently 3 movies in the Design Trilogy, starting from Helvetica to the latest release, Urbanized.

What is the best order to watch the Design Trilogy?

The best way to watch the Design Trilogy is usually in release order: starting with Helvetica and ending with Urbanized. Check our timeline for the full chronological breakdown.

Which is the highest-rated movie in the Design Trilogy?

According to movieMx ratings, the fans have a strong preference for Urbanized in this franchise.