Brit Insurance Designs of the Year 2011 – 16 February – 7 August
Brit Insurance Designs of the Year has established itself as a leading showcase of the most innovative and forward thinking designs from around the world, supporting the critically acclaimed Brit Insurance Design Awards. A number of internationally respected design experts have been invited to nominate up to five projects, each of which in their view, represents the best or the most interesting designs produced or launched in the last year. A shortlist of around 100 designs – the Brit Insurance Designs of the Year – will be on display at the Design Museum from 16 February and will all go forward to be considered for the Brit Insurance Design Awards.
The Brit Insurance Design Awards celebrate the best of design in seven categories: Architecture, Transport, Graphics, Interactive, Product, Furniture and Fashion. A high profile judging panel will decide the best entries in each of the seven categories. Category award-winners will be announced in February and then go forward to compete to be the Brit Insurance Design of the Year 2011, which will be announced at the Awards ceremony on 15 March 2011.
This year’s winner was the innovative Folding Plug designed by RCA graduate Min-Kyu Choi. Currently in final development stages, the Folding Plug will be officially launched onto the market in 2011.
Wim Crouwel – 30 March – 3 July 2011
The Design Museum celebrates the prolific career of the Dutch graphic designer, Wim Crouwel. Spanning 60 years, this exhibition, the first UK retrospective on Crouwel, will cover key moments of his career including his work for Total Design, the identity for the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, as well as his iconic typography and lesser known exhibition design. The exhibition will also highlight Crouwel’s rigorous design approach and commitment to modernism and frame his work in relation to those designers who have influenced him, whilst demonstrating how Crouwel continues to influence today’s graphic designers.
Kenneth Grange – Making Britain Modern – 20 July – 30 October
Kenneth Grange is one of Britain leading product designers, his career spans over five decades and his designs range from high-speed Inter City trains to Angleposise lamps. In the late 1990s Grange redesigned the iconic London taxi, revitalising its dated design with a distinctive new silhouette. Grange co-founded Pentagram, Britain’s first design consultancy in the 1970s and was responsible for landmark designs for Kenwood and Instamatic cameras for Kodak. This exhibition celebrates Grange’s career and design legacy.
Design Museum Collection – 24 August 2011 – 22 January 2012
2011 will see the Design Museum revisit its permanent collection for the first time in five years. The museums varied and exciting collection features era defining designs from sources as diverse as Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert’s UK road signage to classic chairs by Ettore Sottsass and timeless porcelain by Walter Gropius.
The exhibition will focus on design innovation, and the impact of design on the public and society. Using key items from the existing collection the displays will also be supplemented with high-profile loans and new acquisitions.
Designers in Residence – 24 August 2011 – 22 January 2012
Following on from the longstanding Designers in Residence programme, the Design Museum continues to support the next generation of designers and creative’s. This exhibition will showcase the work of young designers at the beginning of their career. The exhibition will include a programme of events, offering the designers the opportunity to interact and engage with the public, whilst using this platform as a test-bed for ideas, designs and innovations.
Kazuyo Sejima – 16 November 2011 – 26 February 2012
The Design Museum presents an exhibition on Japanese architect Kazuyo Sejima. Renowned for designing powerful, elegant buildings, Sejima studied at Japan’s Women’s University before setting up her own practice Kazuyo Sejima and Associates in 1987. In 1995 Sejima founded the Tokyo-based firm SANAA (Sejima and Nishizawa and Associates) together with her former employee Ryue Nishizawa. Earlier this year Sejima was appointed Director of the Venice Architecture Biennale, the first woman ever selected for this position. In 2009 SANNA designed the Serpentine Pavilion and in 2010 SANNA was awarded the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Events, Talks, Activities and Updates
Throughout the year the Design Museum presents a series of educational workshops, activities, talks and late-night events to encourage participation, interaction and debate.
Further projects and events for 2011 will be announced in due course.
designmuseum.org
