Transformation 2029
As the UK’s national museum of design, the Design Museum is a global hub for the power of design to transform our world.
Transformation 2029 is our bold strategy to future-proof the museum for the next decade and beyond, as we prepare for our 40th anniversary.
Our Strategic Objectives:
- Engage and nurture the designers of tomorrow
- Inspire a wide range of audiences through our programming
- Transform our visitor experience to build audience loyalty
- Advocate for design's role in the green transition
- Ensure our long-term financial resilience
The Roadmap
The museum's ambitions will be realised through four transformational priorities:
- Audience Development: expanding reach, deepening engagement and building relevance.
- Digital Transformation: harnessing technology to connect, inspire and deliver.
- Building Transformation: evolving our spaces to meet the needs of the future and making our collection more diverse, inclusive and accessible.
- Commercial Transformation: developing the commercial proposition, to drive income, creativity and brand impact.
At the heart of this long-term organisational strategy is our ambition to ensure that our free-to-visit collection gallery meets the evolving needs of our visitors and reflects the fast-paced evolution of the global design story through a complete remodelling.
Through a generous award from the Heritage Fund, and thanks to National Lottery players, we'll be able to see this project move into a development phase, and begin an extensive process of community, audience and stakeholder consultation to help shape and progress the plans across all areas of the vision – from curation and conservation, to design specifications and commercial opportunities.
This development phase is expected to last up to two years. It will begin with the hiring of key roles and culminate with an application for a full delivery phase grant from the Heritage Fund. If successful in this future grant, the new gallery space is hoped to be open to the public in time for the Design Museum’s 40th birthday in 2029.
With Thanks to Heritage Fund
'We’re proud to give our initial support to the Design Museum as it embarks on this exciting journey to reimagine its permanent gallery in time for its 40th anniversary. Thanks to National Lottery players, this project will ensure that the museum’s world-class design collection is more accessible, inclusive and adaptable for the ever-changing needs of the design world. We look forward to working with the team to progress their plans to apply for a full grant at a later date.'
– Stuart McLeod, Director of England, London & South at Heritage Fund
Transformation 2029 contracts
How to apply for Transformation 2029 contracts
From time to time, the Design Museum commissions external partners to support projects within Transformation 2029.
Opportunities are primarily shared through targeted invitations to ensure an appropriate range of expertise and perspectives. Where relevant, briefs may also be highlighted on our website or via LinkedIn for profile‑raising purposes. Interested organisations or individuals should follow the instructions set out in each brief, including submission requirements and deadlines.
See opportunities available below.
Multi-Disciplinary Design Services Brief
We are calling for Expressions of Interest from designers interested in working with us on the transformation of our permanent collection gallery – currently ‘Designer Maker User’ – ready for the museum’s 40th anniversary in 2029, supported by the Heritage Fund. This is an exhibition-design led brief but will require wider expertise within the design team including architecture, engineering and graphic design.
Deadline for Expression of Interest: Sunday 26 April 2026
How to apply: Contact the Capital Project Manager for full brief and EOI form: sarah.batten@designmuseum.org
Activity Plan Consultant Brief
We are inviting tenders from appropriately qualified, experienced and resourced consultant/s able to develop an Activity Plan as part of our New Collection Gallery project supported by the Heritage Fund.
Deadline: Sunday 3 May 2026
How to apply: Contact the Capital Project Manager for full brief and submission requirements: sarah.batten@designmuseum.org
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