The Design Museum features exhibits of architecture, fashion and graphic and industrial design which essentially means displays of everyday items that feature outstanding design. Sure you could see the same thing for free in a department store, but the Design Museum has carefully amassed a collection that includes everything from furniture to can openers and vacuum cleaners. The museum also hosts a programme of exhibits featuring the work of leading designers and also exhibitions centred around popular culture and the design of everyday objects.
Inside the Design Museum, near Holland Park in Kensington. (Photo © 2024 Rover Media)
What to see in the Design Museum
Designer Maker User is the museum’s permanent exhibition, which is divided into three galleries: Designer, Maker and User.
The Designer gallery focuses on the thought process behind successful design and the museum’s exhibits include the traffic light designed by David Mellor, British road signs designed by Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert and PriestmanGoode’s design for the new tube trains.
The Maker gallery illustrates the thought that designers put into the manufacturing process. This gallery features the Model T Ford, Thonet bentwood cafe chairs and the 2012 Olympic torch as well as everyday objects like tennis balls.
The User gallery features iconic objects that have defined everyday life during the last 100 years including the Vespa scooter, the Olivetti Valentine typewriter, the Braun record player, the Sony Walkman and the Apple iPhone.
Temporary exhibitions at the Design Museum
The museum also hosts a programme of temporary exhibitions. Current and planned exhibitions include:
More than Human
This exhibition (until 5 October 2025) explores how design can support the planet by considering more than just human needs. It examines a growing movement of more-than-human design, showcasing international designers who emphasise coexistence with other species and ecosystems. Bringing together art, science and technology, it questions why design has traditionally focused on humans. £14.38.
Blitz: The Club That Shaped the 80s
This exhibition (20 September 2025–29 March 2026) explores Blitz, the Covent Garden nightclub that helped define 1980s London style. Influenced by David Bowie, punk, soul and cabaret, it became a hub for young creatives shaping fashion, music and design. Forty years after its closure, the exhibition revisits its legacy through music, fashion and graphic design. Developed with former Blitz regulars, it features garments, drawings, photographs and videos, including items never seen publicly before. £14.38.
Wes Anderson: The Archives
This exhibition (21 November 2025–26 July 2026) traces the evolution of Wes Anderson’s films from his early work in the 1990s to his most recent releases. It explores his distinctive visual style, recurring motifs and carefully constructed sets and costumes. Visitors can examine original props, costumes and behind-the-scenes material, including items from Anderson’s personal collection. The exhibition looks at his inspirations, influences and the craftsmanship behind films such as The Royal Tenenbaums and Moonrise Kingdom. £19.69.
Visiting the Design Museum
The Design Museum is located in the former Commonwealth Institute on Kensington High Street. The closest tube station is High Street Kensington, which is an eight-minute walk away. Bus routes 9, 10, 27, 28, 49 and C1 also stop outside the museum.
Admission is free for the Designer Maker User permanent exhibition, but admission charges apply to many of the museum’s temporary exhibitions.
The entire museum is wheelchair accessible. Multisensory tours are available for blind and visually-impaired visitors as well as British Sign Language (BSL) tours for deaf visitors.
Nearby attractions include Holland Park and Kensington Palace, both within a 20-minute walk from the museum. The South Kensington Museum precinct (which includes the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum) is around a half-hour walk from the Design Museum.
Most visitors spend 1–2 hours visiting the Design Museum.
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