The Design Museum London

What makes us a great choice for education

Supporting the National Curriculum for Design and Technology and tailored for key stages 2 – 5, we offer students and educators design education facilities and workshops supporting a vibrant programme connected with the wider ecology of design practice, networks and communities.

What is typically included on our school trips

Exhibition visits

Entry to the museum is free year-round, and we have a permanent display on the top floor as well as a rotation of free temporary displays in our atrium. The museum usually also has two paid exhibitions at any one time.

• Educational group visits are self-guided
• Timings for exhibition visits are flexible depending on availability
• Exhibition group visits for both free and paid displays need to be booked in advance via the website or through the Bookings Office.

School Workshops

We have a selection of workshops about different aspects of the design disciplines, made for students between Key Stages 2 and 5. Using handling collections of contemporary design objects, students can interact with key designs through experiential learning. Hour-long workshops support students to gain new perspectives on the role of designers and the impact of design in everyday life.

If you would also like to bring your students to a workshop, you can choose between three standard timings, and you’ll be allocated a lunch space.

Option A

10:30 – 11:30 – Workshop

11:30 – 12:00 – Lunch

12:00 – 13:00 – Exhibition visit

Option B

10:30 – 11:30 - Exhibition visit

11:45 – 12:45 - Workshop

13:00 – 13:30 - Lunch

Option C

12:00 – 12:30 - Lunch

12:30 – 13:15 - Exhibition visit

13:30 – 14:30 - Workshop

We have two different types of workshops at the museum:

1. Sustainable Design workshop (KS 3-5)

https://designmuseum.org/the-design-museum-campus/schools-and-colleges/sustainable-design-schools-programme

This session encourages students to reflect on the impact of our decisions as designers and consumers. Working with a small handling collection with objects from our Waste Age exhibition, students will evaluate what different objects are made of, why they are designed this way and how essential they are. Using their findings, they will be challenged to design alternatives that take into consideration a circular approach to design.

2. Hands On Design workshops (KS 2-5)

https://designmuseum.org/the-design-museum-campus/schools-and-colleges/hands-on-design-workshops

These sessions are introductions to the design process with a focus on particular design objects. Your students can interact with our Learning collection and learn more about how and why objects are designed as they are. We have the following options:

- Lighting

- Chairs and Seating

- Materials

- Stranger by Design

- Designer Maker User (based on our permanent collection)

Group Sizes Catered For

Each exhibition slot for educational groups can hold up to 30 students. Larger groups can be spread across several slots, and this can be managed through the Bookings office.

For workshops, each session can hold up to 30 students. This is to maintain a level of engagement with the students so that they can make the most of the session. If you would like to bring larger groups, you can spread them across different slots in a day.

Materials, Resources & Information Provided

The museum has educational resources related to its permanent collection. They can be accessed here: https://designmuseum.org/discover-design/useful-stuff-for-teachers/designer-maker-user-education-resources

Photography, Filming & Audio Restrictions

The museum in general can be filmed and photographed, however some exhibitions might have restrictions with some objects.

You are welcome to take photographs during the Learning activities as long as the facilitator is comfortable with this.

Risk Assessment Details

We can provide a risk identification document in preparation for your visit, and you are welcome to come to the museum ahead of your planned visit to see our facilities and Learning spaces.

Education Officer Information

If you have any questions, you can contact our Learning team at learning@designmuseum.org and we’ll get back to you.

Pricing Information

Self-guided exhibition group visits:

• Visits to free displays need to be booked in advance
• Paid displays cost £3 per student in primary, secondary, further education and college. Teachers and tutors are free at a ratio of 1:10 students.
• Any additional teachers will be charged the £8 Teacher ticket rate.

School Workshops:

• Each 1h session is priced at £150 incl. VAT

First Aid Information

We have first aid trained staff on site and first aid stations.

Available Facilities

• Shops: High Street shop, Atrium shop and a dedicated Exhibition Shop
• Café run by London Grade Coffee
• Toilets: we have toilets and accessible toilets on every floor, and a larger accessible toilet on our -2 floor.
• The dedicated lunch space is reserved for school groups doing workshops. Lunch can be eaten on our Atrium steps or in Holland Park nearby.

Accessibility & Disabled Facilities

Our building has accessible toilets in every level and several lifts to access all levels. Our exhibitions all have accessible routes.

We have accessible toilets on every level and a larger accessible toilet facility in our -2 level.

Opening Hours & Information

The building is open all year round, both exhibitions and the museum shop and café. Our opening hours are 10am – 6pm, Monday to Sunday.

Our Schools Programme runs Monday to Friday during term time. Activity times vary depending on the programme.