annual review 2017–18 designmuseum.org Annual Review 2017–18 Contents 3 Chairman’s Introduction 5 2017–18 Exhibitions 19 Designers in Residence 21 Learning 23 Research and Collection 25 The Global Museum 29 Building Partnerships 31 Engaging Audiences 33 Financial Review 35 Supporters Interior view of the Design Museum Chairman’s Introduction The Design Museum has now been open in its new Kensington home for 18 months and in this period it has welcomed more than 1m visitors, taught more than 60,000 learners in specific programmes, staged a series of critically acclaimed exhibitions, and run a provocative and engaging public programme. More recently the museum has won the European Museum of the Year award, further building upon these successes. We are proud of this achievement. In 2017–18 the museum sold a record 160,000 exhibition tickets and raised over £10m in income from admissions, commercial activities and fundraising efforts, doubling in scale from previous years at our former home in Shad Thames. This transformational achievement is the product of the imagination, continued commitment and generosity of our founder, Sir Terence Conran, the support of our donors and funders, an enterprising approach to running the museum and the sustained effort of our staff, volunteers and trustees. We have demonstrated that design is as much a part of the cultural landscape as contemporary art, music or theatre. The Design Museum’s purpose is to make the impact of design visible to the public, to policymakers, to educators, to industry and to entrepreneurs. We are a significant cultural institution with national and international stature that measures itself against the intellectual ambition of peers the world over. Our programme will continue to offer a global perspective on design and architecture and challenge our audiences to look afresh at the world around them and make it better. ‘This inspiring, socially-aware museum includes the visitor in a friendly Lord Mandelson dialogue and taps into the creative history of design, which it celebrates and documents with ingenuity, historical accuracy and humour. It serves as a platform for the promotion of good design worldwide and sets up an important democratic and multi-layered intercultural dialogue, with a significant social impact in the community.’ European Museum of the Year Judging Panel 2018 The European Museum of the Year Award CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION | 4 2017–18 Exhibitions LOREM IPSUM DOLOR SIT AMET. Exhibition view, Ferrari: Under the Skin, 2017 1 5 California: Designing Freedom Curated by Justin McGuirk, Chief Curator 24 May – 17 Oct 2017 While California’s mid-century modernism is well documented, this is the first exhibition to examine its global reach. How did California come to have such a powerful influence on contemporary design worldwide? This exhibition showed why ‘Designed in California’ has become a global phenomenon and explored how the ideals of the 1960s counterculture morphed 3 into the tech culture of Silicon Valley today. Highlights included rare Apple prototypes alongside the first showing in the UK of the Google driverless car, the Easy Rider motorbike and the LGBT Rainbow Flag that was acquired by the museum. The accompanying programme included a talk by writer and urbanist Adam Greenfield, a panel discussion with tech entrepreneurs Tony Fadell and Bethany Koby and an event with the American graphic designer and women’s activist Sheila Levrant de Bretteville discussing her work and her involvement in Californian culture since the 1960s. 1. Waymo’s self-driving car prototype, 2016 2. Easy Rider motorcycle, 1969 3. The Apple Macintosh personal computer, 1984 4. Snapchat Spectacles, 2016 5. Exhibition view 2 4 7 | 2017–18 EXHIBITIONS 2017–18 EXHIBITIONS | 8 1 2 3 4 6 Ferrari: Under the Skin Curated by Andrew Nahum, Guest Curator and Gemma Curtin, Curator 15 November 2017 – 15 April 2018 ‘Intelligently curated and stunningly designed’ This Design Museum exhibition opened in Maranello, Italy and Forbes then moved to the museum in London. Starting with the very ‘It’s not the first exhibition commemorating first Ferrari, the 125s, through to Michael Schumacher’s winning Ferrari’s 70-year history – but it may be the finest' Formula One car and the newest hybrid model, the exhibition Motor Sport Magazine featured rare cars and memorabilia displayed together in public for the first time. Over 100,000 visitors enjoyed 70 years of Ferrari passion and design innovation, with unique behind-the- scenes access to one of the most evocative car brands. The accompanying book, produced in association with Phaidon, achieved over £100,000 in global sales. From Idris Elba DJing at the preview to the £140m worth of Ferraris in the show, this exhibition captured Ferrari’s powerful personality and design story. The accompanying programme included a rare 1. Exhibition view, F1-2000 racing car, designed by Rory Byrne lecture given by Senior Vice President of Design at Ferrari, 2. Ferrari S.p.A., Yearbook, 1960 3. Steve McQueen with his Ferrari 350 GT Berlinetta Flavio Manzoni, and a symposium on The Future of the Car in Lusso, 1963 partnership with RCA Intelligent Mobility programme. 4. Ferrari S.p.A., F150 FM 05 drawing, 2013 5. Exhibition view, Pininfarina Wooden Buck 365 P (1966), Aluminum body shell 250 LM (1964), Wireframe model 250 GTO (1962) 6. F40, designed in 1987 by Leonardo Fioravanti Ferrari: Under the Skin was supported by Associate Sponsor, Santander and Media Partner, GQ. 5 9 | 2017–18 EXHIBITIONS 2017–18 EXHIBITIONS | 10 1 6 Imagine Moscow: Architecture, Propaganda, Revolution Curated by Eszter Steierhoffer, Senior Curator 15 March – 4 June 2017 Marking the centenary of the Russian Revolution, this exhibition explored Moscow as it was imagined by a bold new generation 2 3 of architects and designers in the 1920s and early 1930s. Drawing on rarely seen material, Imagine Moscow presented an idealistic vision of the Soviet capital that was never realised. Large-scale architectural drawings, combined with artwork, propaganda and publications from the period, showed how these unbuilt projects suggest an alternative reality for the city. The exhibition offered a unique insight into the culture of the time, and also showed how the ideas explored by Soviet innovators continue to influence architects and urbanists today. 1. Exhibition view, Commissariat of Heavy Industry, 1934 2-3. Exhibition views 4. USSR in Construction N.12, 1935 5. Exhibition view, Palace of the Soviets, 1931–41 6. Exhibition entrance 4 5 11 | 2017–18 EXHIBITIONS 2017–18 EXHIBITIONS | 12 1 2 3 7 Breathing Colour Curated by Alex Newson, Senior Curator 28 June – 24 September 2017 ‘Design Museum’s must-see exhibition Working with acclaimed Dutch designer Hella Jongerius, the on colour’ ★★★★★ museum created an installation-based exhibition that took an The Sunday Times in-depth look at the way colour behaves. Exploring shapes, ‘Eye-popping’ materials, shadows and reflections, this exhibition delighted Metro visitors with its rich visual impact and inspiring research. Jongerius delivered a keynote lecture at the museum on colour 4 theory to compliment the exhibition. 1. Exhibition view, silk, paper weaves and colour catchers 2-3. Exhibition views, woven textile piece 4. Exhibition view, coloured vases 5. Exhibition view, colour catchers and woven textile pieces Breathing Colour was supported by Associate Sponsors Maharam and Vitra with additional support 6-7. Exhibition views, colour catchers from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. 5 6 13 | 2017–18 EXHIBITIONS 2017–18 EXHIBITIONS | 14 1 2 3 4 6 Beazley Designs of the Year ‘From the brilliant to the brutal ... a glimpse into what the world of tomorrow may look like’ Curated by Glenn Adamson, Guest Curator ★★★★ The Times 18 October 2017 – 18 February 2018 Beazley Architecture Design of the Year In its 10th year, this exhibition brought together over 60 and Overall Winner The National Museum of African American innovative designs from around the world across six categories: History and Culture, Adjaye Associates Architecture, Digital, Fashion, Graphics, Product and Transport Beazley Graphic Design of the Year – featuring film, virtual reality, audio and objects that together ‘Fractured Lands’, The New York Times represent the breadth and variety of today’s smartest minds. Magazine, 14 August 2016 Nominated by renowned academics, critics and designers, each Beazley Product Design of the Year project was recognised for its outstanding contribution to design. AIR-INK Beazley Fashion Design of the Year From the Refugee Nation Flag, created to represent stateless Nike Pro Hijab athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympics, to the ability to explore Beazley Transport Design of the Year Pierre Chareau’s Art Deco furniture with the help of VR goggles, Scewo visitors journeyed through the best designs of the year. Beazley Digital Design of the Year Rapid Liquid Printing The exhibition was accompanied by the Risk Society Symposium which brought together leading designers, artists, academics and social thinkers for a day of talks and 1. The Pussyhat Project, 2017 presentations exploring urgent topics like globalisation, the 2. Exhibition view 3. Mahjouba Initiative, 2016 migrant crisis, artificial intelligence and the anthropocene. 4. Remolten, 2016 Speakers included Glenn Adamson, Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg, 5. Exhibition view 6. The marketing campaign Grainne Hassett, Jack Self, Christina Varvia and Ben Vickers. 5 15 | 2017–18 EXHIBITIONS 2017–18 EXHIBITIONS | 16 1 2 3 Atrium Exhibitions Collaborative Exhibitions Dezeen’s Brexit Passport Competition Supporting the museum’s vision and enhancing the visitor experience, the museum worked in partnership to create two 6 July – 14 August 2017 powerful exhibitions in its Helene and Johannes Huth Gallery The winner of design magazine Dezeen’s unofficial Brexit that were free admission. passport design competition, plus eight shortlisted entries, were on display. The project aimed to provoke visitors into thinking about the UK’s identity after Brexit.