Exhibition Final weeks
Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street
Step up and discover the footwear phenomenon that has challenged performance design, inspired subcultures and shaken the world of fashion.
'This fun show has all the answers – including how to get really fat laces.'
★★★★ The Guardian
'A technicolour medley of shapes and styles' ★★★★ Evening Standard
'A post-lockdown must-see.' Vogue
#SneakersUnboxed
What to expect
Know your Air Jordans from your Air Force 1s?
From trainers originally designed for specific athletic activities like the Converse Chuck Taylor All Star, the Puma Disc, and Nike Air Zoom Alphafly Next%, discover how sneakers such as the Reebok InstaPump Fury, the Vans Half Cab and the Asics Gel Lyte III have become cultural symbols of our times.
Take a journey through the design process behind some of the most technically inventive shoes of today with the Adidas FutureCraft.Strung shoe-making robot designed by Kram/Weisshaar, Satoshi, a brand using blockchain certification and the world’s first biologically active shoes developed by MIT Design Lab and Biorealize for Puma.
Then delve into the lucrative resale market that is currently valued at $10 billion in data visualisations from Stock X, before reliving the streetwear staple's high-fashion reinvention including sneakers by Balenciaga, Comme des Garçons and Y-3 and runway looks from A-COLD-WALL* and CRAIG GREEN.
Uncover the icons and collaborations that have shaped the sneaker scene over the years from Michael Jordan and Run-DMC to Kanye West, experience visuals and graphic work from Jamel Shabazz, Grace Ladoja, Simon Wheatley and Reuben Dangoor, and meet the designers working to make the industry more sustainable, Stella McCartney, Helen Kirkum and Alexander Taylor.
Book online
Ticketing information
Online booking in advance is essential.
Adult tickets from £12.50
Student tickets from £10.90*
Family tickets from £24.00
*There are a range of concession tickets available, check our ticket information page for more details.
Please note that Sneakers Unboxed closes at 21.00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The collection display Designer Maker User closes at 18.00 daily. If you wish to visit this display please arrive before 17.00
VIP access with Membership
Membership plus: Support the Design Museum and enjoy free, unlimited entry for you and a guest to all exhibitions, priority access to events, discounts in the shop and more for an entire year.
Student Membership: Enjoy special discounts on exhibitions, events and learning programmes from just £45 for the year.
Gift membership: Become a Member or surprise someone with the gift of Membership.
Sneakers Unboxed 'Street Burger' Deal
The Design Museum has teamed up with Gordon Ramsay’s brand-new Street Burger restaurant on Kensington High Street to offer a tasty deal including a signature burger, seasoned fries and bottomless soft drink with your exhibition ticket to Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street.
The virtual tour
Skate X Sneakers
Try Sneaker 0
Sneaker 0 by Snap
At the Design Museum, we’re always looking for innovative ways to reshape the museum experience. In partnering with Snapchat we’ve been able to re-imagine that whole process by extending the Sneakers exhibition into people's phones and even onto their feet. Sneaker 0 is not only made by machine learning using curatorial research and imagination, it’s an entirely new way for people to engage with a complex design story.”
Tim Marlow, Design Museum CEO
Design your own sneakers
Pensole Interactive: Create Your Design
Try your hand at sneaker design when you visit the museum with the Pensole Interactive Competition. Sneakers Unboxed visitors can virtually design their own sneaker and three lucky winners will be chosen to receive a real pair of their creation. Competition entry is only available for exhibition visitors. Please note: when onsite at the museum, you must be connected to the Design Museum Guest Wi-fi to create an account.
Shop online
Coming soon
Exhibition Poster artwork by Jack Harper
Exhibition Photography by Ed Reeve and Felix Speller
Exhibition Trailer Credits:
Creative Direction: @playniceldn
Words & Concept: @ayomkn
Director & Collage: @georgewilliamvicary
Collage Assistant: @a.lexbk
Art Direction & Design: @aaron _ skipper
Motion: @ma _ rk _ g
Producers: @curtisjohncyrus | Ayo Fagbemi @playniceldn
Run DMC & Posse: Hollis, Queens, 1984 photography by Janette Beckmann @janettephoto