Abstract
The paper will consider the differing ways in which design has been exhibited and explained in design museums in London over the past century and a half, and the broader social forces which underpin such curatorial emphases. It will consider these issues through an historical examination of the acquisition and exhibition policies of both the V&A and the Design Museum. While both were ostensibly established with the intention of improving design industry and education within the UK, both also exhibited a shift in emphasis from 'industry' to 'art', from 'engineering' to 'styling'. The paper will argue that this shift can, to some extent, be attributed to a manifesting of an anti-industrial, anti-commercial bias evident in certain sections of the middle-classes since the Industrial Revolution. It will consider the implications of such an attitude for both the museums and the design profession in the UK.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 17-26 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Design Principles and Practices |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 2007 |