The Design Museum

The Design Museum is one of the world’s leading museums devoted to contemporary design and it is working to place design at the centre of contemporary culture. The museum covers product, industrial, graphic, fashion and architectural design. It was founded in 1989 and claims to be the first museum of modern design.

It is a small museum, with exhibitions over two floors, and a "Design Museum Tank" exhibition space out by the water front. It is on the south bank of the River Thames in the Shad Thames area in London. The museum attracts 200,000 visitors annually.

The museum is housed in a former 1940s Banana warehouse, which was altered beyond recognition in the conversion to resemble a building in the International Modernist style of the 1930s. The museum was principally designed by the Conran group. Terence Conran aided in this conversion, as it was his concept to create such a museum of Modern Design.

The Brit Insurance Designs of the Year exhibition, showcasing all the shortlisted designs is held annually at the Design Museum. This is the Design Museum’s annual exploration of the most innovative, interesting and forward looking designs produced over the last twelve months from around the world and celebrated in seven categories: Architecture, Transport, Graphics, Interactive, Product, Furniture and Fashion.

The Design Museum is one of London’s most sought-after venues. Described by the fashion designer Paul Smith as “the natural home for everyone who has ever enjoyed or appreciated design”, it is the perfect setting for any event.

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Tickets for the museum and related exhibitions can be purchased online, by phone or in person at the box office.

Contact details for the Design Museum tel: 0207 940 8790, email: [email protected]

The Museum is open daily 10am - 5.45pm (Last admission at 5.15pm). Occasionally the museum is open in the evenings; it is advisable to check the website or box office for details in advance. The Design Museum is open on all bank and national holidays, except 25 + 26 December.

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