London’s new Design Museum opened on the 24th of November. Based on West London’s Kensington High Street in an £85 million grade II listed modernist building, the museum exhibits and highlights “the made and the visual”.
It is proving a huge success. Visitors to what The Guardian called a “beautifully odd” museum have topped 100, 000 since opening. Since the museum was planning on 650, 000 in its first 12 months, this represents a considerable kick-start to its first year of operation. It also marks a sea-change in visitor numbers from the museum’s former home near Tower Bridge. There, visitors numbers were around 250, 000 a year. Early signs indicate that local shops and businesses are benefitting from the increased footfall too.
California and Ageing at the Design Museum
Founded in 1989, The Design Museum covers product, industrial, graphic, fashion and architectural design. It is run as a registered charity. Funds generated by ticket sales help the museum in curating new exhibitions. Entrance is free to the museum’s permanent collection.
The creation of the new design Museum involved renowned creatives such as minimalist designer John Pawson and architect Rem Koolhaas.‘
An exciting exhibition programme for 2017 includes exhibits on the unbuilt architecture of Moscow in the 1920s and 1930s and design for an ageing population. There will also be a landmark exhibition highlighting the counterculture of California.
Digital Arts looks at the new museum in a “visual tour” of the new museum (see link below).
Top image © gravity road
https://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/graphic-design/londons-new-design-museum-sees-100000-visitors-already/#1
