This was the first museum in the world to elevate everyday design and design classics to the status of art by placing them in their social and cultural context. Fashion, creative technology, and architecture are explored with thematic displays from the museum's permanent collection, and temporary exhibitions provide an in-depth focus on such subjects as the work of great designers such as Charles Eames and Isamu Noguchi, or thematic shows on the Bauhaus or book design. The museum looks forward, too, by showcasing innovative contemporary designs and technologies, an area that kids find absorbing (there are free activity packs to spark their interest further). All of this is supplemented by a busy program of lectures, events, and talks, including a children's workshop. If you're in need of sustenance, there's the trendsetting Blueprint Café (designed by that most venerated of design gurus, Terence Conran), with its river terrace and superb views. For quicker snacks at a lower price, there's also the museum's own café on the ground floor. Entry to both cafés and the museum store is free.
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