At Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, the Design Museum of Barcelona brings fashion, furniture, ceramics, textiles and graphic arts together under one roof. Its permanent displays trace how everyday objects and visual design changed over time, with material from Catalonia and beyond. Four floors focus on different design fields, and temporary exhibitions add changing subjects. The metal-clad building is part of the visit too. Come to follow the history of clothing, browse poster design or consider how design shapes daily life.
Four floors of design
The museum brings together collections from several former institutions devoted to applied arts, including decorative arts, textiles and clothing, and graphic arts. Its subject range extends to fashion, furniture, ceramics and product design. The displays are arranged across four floors, with each level focused on a particular design discipline.
Objects and images show how design developed in Catalonia and Spain, alongside wider contributions. The collections include pieces from the past through to modern design, giving visitors a chance to trace changes in clothing, household objects and visual communication over time. The museum also holds a large collection of books, journals and archival material related to design.
Clothing, objects and printed media
The fashion displays follow clothing through different eras. The textile collection includes garments worn by Catalans in the 16th century, with later pieces showing how dress changed through to the present. Furniture and decorative arts give another view of design through objects made for everyday use.
Graphic design has its own place in the museum. Printed material, including posters, offers a way to follow changes in visual style and communication. Other areas include product design and sustainable interior design, as well as displays that draw on forms found in nature. Temporary exhibitions bring additional subjects into the museum and change over time.
The building and its purpose
The museum occupies a contemporary building designed by the Barcelona architecture practice MBM Arquitectes. Its metal exterior rises above Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes, near Torre Glòries. The building’s modern form contrasts with the older objects and historical material inside.
The museum opened at its current site in 2014. Its purpose is to encourage understanding of design and its role in everyday life. Displays connect the appearance and use of objects with their wider social and historical context, inviting visitors to consider what design contributes to contemporary society.
Preguntas frecuentes
When is the Design Museum of Barcelona free?
Admission is free after 3 pm on Sundays and throughout the first Sunday of each month.
What can you see at the Design Museum of Barcelona?
The collections cover fashion, textiles, furniture, ceramics, decorative arts, product design and graphic arts. The museum also presents temporary exhibitions.
Is the Design Museum of Barcelona open on Mondays?
No. It is closed on Mondays.
Can you return to the museum on the same ticket?
A single ticket allows a return visit within six months.
