The Design Museum is an oasis of design history

Design is a part of our lives. The world we see around us is the result of precise design and planning work. It is no wonder, then, that an internationally acclaimed museum designed by Gustaf Nyström has been opened on Korkeavuorenkatu in Helsinki. The Design Museum, which opened in the late 1970s, hides the secrets of Finnish national design and architecture over the years to the present day.

The Design Museum was originally a Swedish-language college

When we think about our living environment as well as our society, it is often overlooked who has designed everything. We often take it for granted that our visually beautiful world exists thanks to careful planning and design. The National Design Museum, founded in 1978 on Korkeavuorenkatu in Helsinki, collects and stores a collection in the field of design, and is responsible for research in the field, documentation of developments and the implementation of exhibitions presenting the modern and historical history of design.

Its original starting point was to serve as an educational collection for the art industry. The museum also produces exhibitions from various areas of design for domestic and international circulation. The museum building was designed by Gustaf Nyström in 1895, and until 1977 it housed the private Swedish-language school Läroverket för gossar och flickor. The museum has been in its current premises since 1978. The museum shares its courtyard with the Finnish Museum of Architecture, which is one block at the end on Kasarmikatu.

The history of the Design Museum building dates back to the late 1800s. Photo: Helsinki City Museum

People are interested in the history of design

The Design Museum has been a really popular destination for many decades. People are interested in Finnish design and it is also visible in the number of visitors. In 2017, the Design Museum was visited by a total of about 170,000 guests. The Design Museum offers unique design experiences and new perspectives on multidimensional design both in Finland and internationally. The museum’s website also has various online exhibitions, including works by Arabia, Marimekko, and designers Kaj Franck and Oiva Toikka.

The Design Museum displays elegant Finnish design. Photos: Design Museum Facebook page

The collection of the Design Museum is really extensive. At the time of writing, the Design Museum is displaying more than 125,000 images, 75,000 objects, and 45,000 drawings. So this is a really large collection. The Design Museum also has changing exhibitions, but Utopia now offers a slightly more permanent experience – a story about Finnish design that has been on display since 2017. The exhibition tells about the essential role of design in the development of the Finnish welfare state. The exhibition in question is also on display digitally on the Design Museum’s website and you can view it fromthis link. Design museums have also been opened elsewhere in Finland, such as Arabia, Iittala and Lake Nuutajärvi.

The Design Museum has temporary and permanent exhibitions. Photos: Design Museum Facebook page

The Design Museum is part of Finland’s diverse culture and the growth of its development. We recommend the Design Museum to anyone who appreciates Finnish design and its valuable history.

Contact information and opening hours

Designmuseo Helsinki: Korkeavuorenkatu 23

Designmuseo Helsinki opening hours:
The museum is closed until February 28, 2021.
As the restrictions ease, the museum will be open as follows:

Mon closed
Tue 11.00–20.00
Wed–Sun 11.00–18.00

On the Design Museum’s website you will find all the information about the exhibitions, the museum itself and prices.