Design Museum (Designmuseo)
Design Museum (Designmuseo) is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Helsinki audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~60 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type museum
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Helsinki Helsinki guide
About Design Museum (Designmuseo)
Finland's museum of design, from Marimekko prints to Kaj Franck glass, housed since 1978 in a neo-Gothic former school and now merging into a new Architecture and Design Museum.
The Design Museum (Designmuseo) in Helsinki is devoted to Finnish and international design, including industrial design, fashion and graphic design. Founded in 1873 as the Museum of Applied Arts (Taideteollisuusmuseo), it took the name Design Museum in 2002. Since 1978 it has occupied a neo-Gothic building on Korkeavuorenkatu in the Kaartinkaupunki district, designed by Gustaf Nystrom and completed in 1895 as a school; the building is owned by the Finnish state through Senate Properties.
The collection holds tens of thousands of objects and large archives of drawings, documenting Finnish design from the 1870s to the present, with work by makers such as the Arabia ceramics factory, Marimekko, Kaj Franck and Oiva Toikka. The museum was a hub of Helsinki's World Design Capital year in 2012. In 2024 it began merging with the Museum of Finnish Architecture to form a new Architecture and Design Museum, while the Korkeavuorenkatu building remains open.
Did you know? The museum was founded in 1873 as the Museum of Applied Arts and took the name Design Museum only in 2002. It has occupied its neo-Gothic building, originally a school, since 1978.
How long should you spend at Design Museum (Designmuseo)?
Plan about ~60 min at Design Museum (Designmuseo). That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Design Museum (Designmuseo) worth visiting?
Design Museum (Designmuseo) is one of the 21 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Helsinki, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Helsinki
Day 1 of the Helsinki in 2 days itinerary →
Updated:
Hear the story of Design Museum (Designmuseo)
Preview the Helsinki tour free in the Gingerguide app.