The mission of Design Onscreen is to document and disseminate in some form of “film media” the work of significant designers and contemporary issues in design aligned with the following criteria:

• Designers and thematic subjects are associated with one or more of the following fields: architecture, industrial design or graphic design.
• Programming primarily focuses on the work of individual designers and/or contemporary issues from the Post-World War II period.
• In general, the work of a designer and/or a documentary’s thematic subject matter has not been the subject of a previous documentary; however, documentaries bringing a new perspective to a designer’s previously examined work or to broader themes in design, culture and society would also be appropriate.
• Primary focus for programming on individual designers is on those who are still living to allow for first-hand documentation of their work.
• Design Onscreen’s architecture programming focuses primarily on important undocumented regional architects, other architects who have not received significant attention to-date, and contemporary issues in architecture.

Design Onscreen supports only the highest quality programming utilizing the best and most creative minds in film production.

Design Onscreen produces programming independently and in collaboration with other organizations as appropriate for each project.

Design Onscreen will form an advisory committee of distinguished professionals to advise the Board and help plan its programs.

Where feasible, copies of “master films” (or other media) are deposited with an appropriate public institution to ensure their preservation and availability to future generations. Raw footage is either be preserved by Design Onscreen or deposited with appropriate institutions. Films (or other media) are also stored in an appropriate environment to ensure preservation.

In 2009, Design Onscreen will establish an annual architecture and design film series in Denver (in conjunction with the Denver Film Society) which may later develop into an annual architecture and design film festival.