A Sunday at the Design Museum of Barcelona - Creativity and Innovation
Exploring the Intersection of Design, Sustainability, and Culture in Barcelona
On a gloriously sunny Sunday, I was drawn to the Museu del Disseny de Barcelona (), a hub of creativity and innovation nestled in the heart of Plaça de les Glòries. More than just a museum, it’s a dynamic space—part exhibition hall, part laboratory—dedicated to exploring and advancing the design world in all its forms. The museum focuses on four core disciplines: space design, product design, information design, and fashion, offering visitors a comprehensive view of how design shapes our lives.
One highlight of my visit was the exhibition *100 IKEA Objects We Would Have Liked Having at VINÇON*. This imaginative display juxtaposes the global impact of IKEA with the local significance of the iconic Barcelona store VINÇON, which sadly closed its doors in 2015. Through a fascinating “game of mirrors,” the exhibition contrasts Scandinavian and Mediterranean design philosophies while reflecting on key themes like sustainability, functionality, and accessibility. It even invites us to imagine a parallel universe where VINÇON became the global household name instead of IKEA.
The exhibition is based on an idea by Fernando Amat, the visionary behind VINÇON, and curated by architect Juli Capella. It’s a beautifully executed dialogue between two design cultures, encouraging visitors to consider how design impacts our daily lives and well-being.
Another standout was *The Ocean Speaks: New Ecologies and New Economies of the Seas*. This timely exhibition delves into the relationship between human activity and marine ecosystems, urging us to rethink how cities like Barcelona interact with their seafronts. Through an interdisciplinary approach—encompassing architecture, technology, speculative design, and urban planning—the exhibition tackles pressing issues like the climate crisis and sustainable development.
Seeing Echoes In the Mind of the Whale is a large-scale video installation offering a multi-sensory journey into the lives of bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, and sperm whales. Blending deep listening, science, and art, it explores how these creatures navigate, communicate, and perceive their world using extraordinary vocalizations. The piece invites viewers to rise and dive with the whales, bridging human perception with the enigmatic experiences of these marine giants.
Barcelona’s historical connection to the sea, which underwent a significant transformation in the 1990s, serves as a poignant starting point. The exhibit broadens its scope to explore global coastal communities, home to nearly 40% of humanity. It’s an eye-opening look at how innovation and design can address the challenges facing our oceans and coastal regions.
Lastly, I wandered through “Do You Work or Design? New Visual Communication. 1980-2003”, an exhibition that captures the vibrant spirit of graphic design during Spain’s transition to democracy and its integration into Europe. The 1980s and 1990s were a golden era for Spanish design, marked by a surge of creativity and the advent of new technologies like the Macintosh computer.
This period, often dubbed a “design boom,” saw graphic designers play a pivotal role in shaping the identities of public institutions, private organizations, and corporations. The exhibition beautifully illustrates how these designers embraced new challenges, including sustainability, multiculturalism, and information overload, while establishing a global presence for Spanish design.
The museum itself is a marvel of sustainable architecture, designed by the MBM architecture firm. Its striking design harmonizes with the surrounding urban landscape while incorporating eco-friendly features like rainwater reuse, solar panels, and energy-efficient systems. The building’s dual structure—with an underground public space and an above-ground parallelepiped—symbolizes a bridge between Barcelona’s past and future.
Barcelona’s deep-rooted connection to design is evident in every corner of the museum, which houses collections from several institutions, including the Museu de les Arts Decoratives and the Museu Tèxtil i d’Indumentària. It’s a testament to the city’s commitment to celebrating and preserving its rich design heritage while fostering innovation for generations to come.
My visit to the Design Museum of Barcelona was an inspiring journey through the past, present, and future of design. Each exhibition offered a unique perspective on how design shapes our world, from democratizing aesthetics to addressing global challenges like climate change. If you’re in Barcelona, don’t miss the chance to explore this extraordinary space—it’s a must-visit for anyone curious about the transformative power of design.