On Wednesday, the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London reopened its galleries dedicated to design spanning the last 126 years. The newly launched "Design 1900-Now" spaces, which had been closed since November, feature an impressive collection of 250 artifacts from the 20th and 21st centuries. Among the highlights are the first edition of Kim Kardashian's coffee table book Selfish, published in 2015, a bottle of Finlandia vodka from 1969-70, and Gerrit Rietveld's iconic "Crate" chair from 1934.
This collection serves as a testament to the pervasive role of design in our daily lives, manifested through technology, popular toys, and various communication methods. Rather than following a chronological order, the galleries are organized around six thematic sections: automation and labor, housing and living, crisis and conflict, consumption and identity, sustainability and subversion, and data and communication.
Among the standout items in the "1900-Now" galleries are several new acquisitions, including a pack of star-shaped pimple patches, a circular blue badge stating "Please offer me a seat" for public transportation users, a green polyester travel prayer mat equipped with a compass, and a YouTube watch page featuring "Me at the zoo," the first video uploaded to the platform in 2005.
Other notable pieces include the Egg Chair from 1968, a Boombox from 1984, and the first YouTube video from 2005. The galleries aim to showcase how design continues to evolve and influence various aspects of modern life.
Visitors can also explore the Transport for London Button from 2017 and a Portable Prayer Mat introduced in 2023, reflecting the museum's commitment to showcasing contemporary design. The latest addition, the Labubu doll from 2025, exemplifies the innovative spirit of modern design.
The V&A's "Design 1900-Now" galleries not only celebrate the past but also inspire future generations to appreciate the significance of design in shaping our world.