After Helvetica ( a documentary film about typography, graphic design and global visual culture) and Objectified ( about our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them), Gary Hustwit announce now Urbanized a third feature-length film. The documentary is currently in production and will premiere in 2011.

“The third documentary in this trilogy is about the design of cities. Urbanized  looks at the issues and strategies behind urban design, featuring some of the world’s foremost architects, planners, policymakers, builders, and thinkers. Over half the world’s population now lives in an urban area, and 75% will call a city home by 2050. But while some cities are experiencing explosive growth, others are shrinking. The challenges of balancing housing, mobility, public space, civic engagement, economic development, and environmental policy are fast becoming universal concerns. Yet much of the dialogue on these issues is disconnected from the public domain.

Who is allowed to shape our cities, and how do they do it? Unlike many other fields of design, cities aren’t created by any one specialist or expert. There are many contributors to urban change, including ordinary citizens who can have a great impact improving the cities in which they live. By exploring a diverse range of urban design projects around the world, Urbanized will frame a global discussion on the future of cities.”

You can follow the news during his process on Gary’s twitter feed