The Museum für Gestaltung is celebrating 150 year!
In 2025, the Museum für Gestaltung marks its 150th anniversary with a year-long celebration filled with special exhibitions, guided tours, and creative workshops. The festivities, which began in January, honor the museum’s rich heritage while exploring the latest developments in design, offering visitors a dynamic and immersive experience.
Founded in 1875 as a teaching collection for students of the Kunstgewerbeschule Zürich (School of Arts and Crafts), the museum has played a pivotal role in shaping Swiss and international design. In 1933, it moved into its iconic Bauhaus-style building on Ausstellungsstrasse, designed by Adolf Steger and Karl Egender. It was officially renamed Museum für Gestaltung in 1987, reflecting its growing influence in the field.
Over the decades, the museum has expanded its focus, embracing contemporary design, graphic arts, and interactive exhibitions. A major milestone came in 2014 when it merged with the ZHdK (Zürcher Hochschule der Künste), becoming its official museum branch. Following extensive renovations, the museum reopened its historic Ausstellungsstrasse location in 2018 and added a second exhibition space in the Toni-Areal, a former industrial site turned cultural hub.
Home to over 500,000 objects, the museum’s vast collection spans graphic design, industrial design, photography, and decorative arts. It holds works from legendary Swiss designers such as Josef Müller-Brockmann, Le Corbusier, and Max Bill.
Today, the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich stands as a leading institution in the global design landscape, fostering innovation through exhibitions, research, and collaborations with designers and institutions worldwide.