The rapid industrialization of the 19th century led to mechanized mass production using brand new materials, and everyday items that until then had been handmade by craftspeople had to undergo drastic changes to adapt to these modern materials and production methods. Trial and error during this period led to the establishment of what we refer to as “design” today – a development that began in Europe and eventually spread throughout the whole world. In this way,design originated from crafts as a new approach to manufacturing that intended to address the various issues that emerged from modernization.
This exhibition traces design currents from a roughly 100-year period through works from the museum’s design collection, beginning with the Arts and Crafts movement of the late 19th century, and continuing on to modern design, as exemplified by Art Nouveau, Art Deco and the Bauhaus and post-World War II developments. Understanding this history places the design all around us in a broader context and gives us a chance to see and appreciate it in a new light.