Object Donations

If the object fits the priorities outlined in our Collection Policy and is in good condition, then it may be that your donation is exactly what we have been looking for. In this case, it will be accepted into our permanent collection with our thanks.

However, it may be that the museum cannot accept your offer. It may be that the museum already has a similar example. It could be that your object is simply too large to fit in our stores, or it isn’t quite right for us (but might suit another museum). In this case, our staff will be able to advise you.

Due to the large volume of messages the museum receives every day, please note that it is not always possible to reply to every request. If you have a specific query, it may already be answered in our frequently asked questions below.

shaped the modern world, from architecture to fashion, graphic design to product design, furniture and transport.

The museum collects a wide range of material, including posters and shopping bags, vinyl records and magazines, telephones, computers, video games and laptops, ready-to-wear fashion and t-shirts, chairs and other examples of furniture. If you’re looking for a good home for your design collection, we’d like to hear from you.

Please note that the Design Museum does not collect large kitchen appliances such as ovens or washing machines.

Yes. The Design Museum welcome all offers of architecture and design-related books and magazines. Please send us a photograph of the book spines and we will let you know if they are of interest.

Please complete the form with details of the objects in question along with a clear photograph. If we think there is something that is potentially of interest, we will get in touch to find out more.

If the object is in London and the surrounding area, we may be able to arrange an in-person visit. In exceptional cases, we will consider making visits further afield in the UK.

In recognition of your generosity, the Design Museum offers can offer a credit line which will be shown alongside the object each time it appears on display in perpetuity. This takes the form of: ‘Gift of John and Jane Smith’, or ‘Given in memory of Jane Smith’.

The Design Museum cares for several thousand objects, and it can only show a small proportion of its collection at any one time. Once your object has been accepted into our collection, it will be catalogued and looked after in our collection store until such a time that it can be put on display.

Please rest assured that your object is well looked after, and has been made available for research, study and education purposes and for loan to other museums.

Loans are always initiated by a member of the curatorial team, usually with a specific exhibition or display. Please note that once an exhibition has opened to the public, the museum is not able to re-jig the display to accommodate your object.

The Design Museum will consider long-term loan arrangements in exceptional circumstances only.

Most of the Design Museum’s exhibitions are generated by the museum’s in-house curatorial team or through collaborations with other institutions. Our exhibitions tend to be planned several months or more in advance, and objects are selected by direct invitation from our curatorial team.

Unfortunately, the Design Museum is unable to value privately-owned objects or works of design. For valuation advice, please contact a reputable auction house or local dealer.

Due to the volume of enquiries received daily, the Design Museum’s curatorial team is not able to reply to requests for private research.