This paper examines the relationship between the design museum, its curatorial remit and the choice of designed objects for sale in a design museum shop. As we know the museum, the shop, the visitor and their aspirations are all tightly interlinked. However, the museum that concentrates on the presentation of design and the designed object faces quite specific issues somewhat different from certain other museums where the offering is of quality reproductions of the objects on display. In the design museum the selfsame designed object is available in the museum shop and exhibited in the museum gallery. From the earliest examples of design exhibitions in museums, many of which promoted good taste in design, we have developed a retail culture in museums that seeks to promote taste and aspirational shopping experiences in much the same way as any regular retailer might. The Walker Art Center Everyday Art Gallery established in 1946 gave opportunities to shop from the display directly in the Useful Gifts Christmas exhibitions and the Good Design exhibitions at MOMA in New York from 1950 provided details of retail outlets. However, the ties between museum object, everyday commodity culture and retailer are never stronger than when they appear in the context of the design museum. In fact increasingly the displays of contemporary design work in the context of the museum gallery are indistinguishable from those in the shop. Where does the museum gallery end and the shop begin? How does this affect out attitudes to objects in the museum, everyday objects in the home and the construction of retail environments?
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)