It’s been estimated that 75% of the world’s population will be living in cities by 2050. This figure raises serious questions about the design of cities, and the issues and strategies governing urban design.

This is the topic that Gary Hustwit explores in Urbanized – the third documentary film in his trilogy. Following on the very successful Helvetica and Objectified, Urbanized examines how urban design affects our lives.

The film, which is due to premier in 2011, features some of the world’s leading architects, planners, builders, policy makers and thinkers. Issues around mobility, public space, civic engagement, economic development, environmental policy and balancing housing in cities are some of those examined in Urbanized. Hustwit points out that much of this dialogue is disconnected from the public domain though it has a direct affect on city dwellers.

Cities are a curious thing, unlike any other field of design, where there is no single specialist designing the space. The many contributors to the design of an urban space is what makes it dynamic. As testament to this, Urbanized explores a diverse range of urban design projects around the world.