The Design Museum is getting a massive multimillion-pound makeover of its permanent galleries

In 2029 London’s Design Museum will turn 40. To mark the occasion, the museum has revealed lofty plans to undergo a massive multi-million-pound renovation, which it hopes will open in time for the big birthday. 

Called Transformation 2029, the project will see a major expansion of the museum’s permanent collection gallery, as well as a complete overhaul of its displays. 

Funding the makeover is the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which has just given the Design Museum £267,249 to move into the development phase. After the two-year development, the museum will apply to the National Lottery for a further £2 million to complete the transformation.

If all goes to plan, the museum’s permanent collection gallery will get a huge glow-up, with a new design that allows its displays to be fully flexible, allowing for the easy rotation of objects and quick installation of newly acquired artefacts. This will help the museum – which is all about showcasing the latest feats in design and technology – keep up with, and reflect, the rapidly changing world. 

This grand overhaul is all part of the museum’s ambitious five-year strategy, which aims to future-proof the site, help it stay relevant to visitors and keep it at the forefront of tech. It also hopes to increase its annual visitor number to 800,000 by 2029, while engaging a global audience of 10 million people.

Tim Marlow, chief executive of the Design Museum, said: ‘Next year marks a decade since moving to our landmark home in Kensington. We have achieved many of our goals since then and the museum has evolved into an institution that is helping to set the cultural agenda, not least through record-breaking exhibitions.

‘Expanding and improving our permanent gallery for our 40th anniversary is at the heart of our new Transformation 2029 strategy to future-proof the museum for the next decade and beyond. We are delighted to have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and thanks to all those who contribute to the National Lottery we can now develop these exciting opportunities further.’

A huge Wes Anderson exhibition is coming to the Design Museum this November. 

First look: inside Dulwich Picture Gallery’s brand-new pavilion and sculpture garden.

 the latest and greatest from the Big Smoke – from news and reviews to events and trends. Just follow our Time Out London WhatsApp channel.