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SKATEBOARD
The first major UK exhibition to map the design evolution of the skateboard from the 1950s to today – a story of design, performance and communities progressing together.
Exhibition photography by Felix Speller
Skate ramp photography by Felix Speller
Makaha Kicktail. Photograph by Caleb J. Adams
Lonnie Toft pro model Sims 1978. Photograph by Caleb J. Adams
Laura Thornhill, backside kick turn Torrance, 1977. Photograph by Jim Goodrich
Denis Shufeldt, Downhill speed run, La Costa, Carlsbad CA, 1976. © Warren Bolster
Steve Rocco pro model Sims, 1980. Photograph by Caleb J. Adams
Caballero Dragon, Powell Peralta, 1981. Photograph by Caleb J. Adams
Mike McGill, frontside at Del Mar, 1984. Photograph by Grant Brittain
Christian Hosoi, Christ, Air, 1985. Photograph by Grant Brittain
Mark Gonzales, Gemco Bank, frontside boneless, 1985. Photograph by Grant Brittain
Mike Vallely, 1989. Photograph by Spike Jonze
Mike Vallely pro model, 1989. Photograph by Caleb J. Adams
Salva Bevel, 1979. Photograph by Caleb J. Adams
Hosoi Hammerhead, 1986. Photograph by Caleb J. Adams
What to expect
SKATEBOARD chronicles the history of skateboard design from the 1950s to the present day, from homemade, humble beginnings to today’s professional and technologically advanced models.
Curated and designed by author, designer and skater Jonathan Olivares, this is the first UK exhibition to explore the evolution of skateboard design in such detail, developed in partnership with Converse.
The exhibition showcases innovative skateboards and components and track how skateboarders have taken over sidewalks, swimming pools and skate parks designing new boards to suit their performance, style and surroundings.
Around 90 rare and unique boards are on display, alongside over 100 other objects, including hardware such as wheels and tucks, safety equipment, VHS tapes, DVDs, magazines and ephemera. Together they show skateboard’s technical developments and its evolving social acceptance.
Explore a range of contemporary boards alongside 1950s homemade skateboards from California – Laura Thornhill’s Logan Earth Ski 1970s pro model, Tony Hawk’s first ever professional model skateboard, Sky Brown's first pro model and the Sky Brown x Skateistan Almost deck.
When you visit, don't forget to share your favourites with @designmuseum using the hashtag:
#SkateboardExhibition
Open Skate Sessions
The SKATEBOARD exhibition space is also host to a skateboard ramp designed by Betongpark with the exhibition curator and skateboarder Jonathan Olivares, which offers skaters the rare opportunity to skate inside a museum and to be part of thousands of people’s exhibition experience.
If you are a skateboarder and would like to book to skate the ramp, this will you also give you access to the exhibition on the same day.
Find out more below or click here for instructions on how to book an Open Skate session which gives you one hour in the ramp, plus access to the exhibition on the same day.
• The ramp is open for skateboard only, no rollerblades, scooters or bikes.
• Design Museum members have free access but must pre-book a session.
• The Open Skate ramp sessions are for ages 16+.
• Please click on the link below to find out more and book a session.
Share your experience with @designmuseum using the hashtag: #DesignMuseumRamp
Open Skate: Find our more and how to book
Book online
Ticket Information
Adult tickets from £16.00
Children aged 6 to 15 from £8.00
Under 6s go free
Concession/Student tickets from £12.00
• Tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Visit our terms & conditions page for further information.
• Please note that the gallery starts closing 30 minutes before the museum closes.
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MEMBERS GO FREE
Members gain free access to the exhibition at any time and can book Open Skate sessions without any extra cost.
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COMBINATION TICKETS
Want to visit our two exhibitions?
Save time and book to see both 'SKATEBOARD' & 'Enzo Mari curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist with Francesca Giacomelli' on the same day.
Please note that if you are aged 16 or over and also want to book Open Skate sessions, you can ask a member of staff on the day for available times to skate on the ramp.
From the Press
‘a classic design story, and one that presents the field as a medium through which to understand the wider world’
Disegno
‘The exhibition embodies the spirit of the Design Museum as a space of connection through design’
Wallpaper*
‘this isn’t your regular stuffy museum show: instead of encouraging visitors to admire artefacts and artworks, the Design Museum has embraced a different side of culture’
Time Out
‘a neatly conceived and tightly edited exhibition’
Vogue UK
Exhibition Partner
“Converse, which has been adopted by skateboarders for more than 75 years, leaned on its heritage and members of its global skate team to support the book and exhibit, from concept to final execution.
The initiative represents Converse’s ambition to provide a platform for experiences that exist at the cross-section of creativity and skateboarding: bridging audiences and interests, while providing useful inspiration.”
Rodney Rambo, Senior Director of North America Marketing
discover more
10 Unmissable Highlights from #SkateboardExhibition
This exhibition showcases innovative skateboards and components and tracks how skateboarders have taken over sidewalks, swimming pools and skate parks.. explore our 10 unmissable highlights.
Download the free audio guide
Discover the voices of the skateboarding community and let them guide you around the SKATEBOARD exhibition with our audio guide available on the Bloomberg Connects. Remember to bring your headphones to enjoy it during your visit.
Doing it Together Podcast
Listen to 'Doing it Together', our new podcast series on skateboarding communities and wellbeing. In the first episode, Esther Sayers and Vita Zorge, members of the London Skate Mums collective, join curator Tory Turk and founder of The Ben Raemers Foundation Lucy Raemers to talk all things skateboarding, motherhood, self-care and sisterhood.
Skateboard Phaidon publication
The exhibition's accompanying publication is curated and written by Jonathan Olivares, designed by Apartamento Studios and published by Phaidon. Developed in collaboration with Converse, the book is an authoritative chronicle of the history of skateboard design from the 1950s to the present day. Pre-order today or buy at the Design Museum Shop from 2024.
Related events
Design Camp: Skateboard Deck Making for 8 to 11 year olds
Learn about the unique skill of deck pressing using the vacuum press – a hands on experience designing and decorating a skateboard deck to keep.
SKATEBOARD Book Launch with Jonathan Olivares
Join Jonathan Olivares, designer, skateboarder, and guest curator of the exhibition SKATEBOARD in conversation with writer and skateboarder Neil Macdonald. They will discuss Olivares' new book on the history of the evolution of skateboard design from the 1950s to today, published by Phaidon.
SKATEBOARD: BSL Tour
Join guide Edward Richards for a tour of the highlights of the exhibition SKATEBOARD, delivered in British Sign Language for d/Deaf visitors using BSL and their companions.
SKATEBOARD: Audio Described Tour
Join guide Andrew Mashigo for an audio-described tour of the exhibition SKATEBOARD for blind and visually impaired visitors and their companions.
Adult Workshop: Design and Screen Print your own Brand
Join this workshop led by Stu Smith, founder of Lovenskate, to experiment with screen printing. Go from the design concept to the print process to start building your visual identity – be it a brand or self-expression.
Background image: Skateboard exhibition photographed by Felix Speller.