Netflix’s art and design documentary series Abstract returns for a second season

Netflix has announced that its documentary series Abstract: The Art of Design will return for a second season, due to air on 25 September. The show, which explores creative inspiration and process through the eyes of a diverse range of designers, debuted in 2017 to critical acclaim.

Although Netflix is currently being tight-lipped about exactly who will be featured in the show, it has announced a stellar list of directors that have worked on each of the episodes. Among the names involved are Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (the filmmaker behind nail-biting rock climbing documentary Free Solo); Morgan Neville, who devised Abstract with former Wired editor-in-chief Scott Dadich; and Ugly Delicious director Jason Zeldes.

The first series featured a broad church of creative heavyweights, including illustrator Christoph Niemann, stage design Es Devlin, interior designer Isle Crawford, Pentagram’s Paula Scher, architect Bjarke Ingels, Ralph Gilles (head of design at Fiat Chrysler), photographer Platon, and Tinker Hatfield, a shoe designer for Nike. It received praise for its particularly creative approach to storytelling – most notably in the episode dedicated to Christoph Niemann, which saw the illustrator bring sections of live action footage to life with his trademark drawing style.

Netflix has said that the new series will similarly delve into the practices of the “most inspiring visionaries from a variety of disciplines whose work shapes our culture and future” taking watchers “beyond blueprints into the art, science, and philosophy of design.”

Executive producer Scott Dadich said in a statement, “The next season of Abstract builds on the original vision for the series, presenting new and diverse perspectives about how the creative process actually works –from the visionary folks designing the future. I hope Abstract continues to inspire people all over the planet, those new to art and design, as well as anyone curious about how our world works.”

Director and executive producer Morgan Neville adds, “This season we got the chance to take even bigger swings at essential questions about the nature of creativity. I can’t wait for people to discover it.”