Day four map:
This was my final day in London, and my train was at 2pm. So I had only a few hours to spare in the morning, and decided to take in the Design Museum as my final activity in London.
There were two exhibitions on when I visited, both of which are still currently on.
On the first floor is a Terence Conran exhibition. Called The Way We Live Now, the exhibition outlines the massive contributions Terence Conran has made to the British design industry since the 1950s.
On the second floor is Designs of the Year 2012. I found this absolutely fascinating. It’s tempting to think that wandering round looking at these designs is like having a sneak preview of the future. It spans everything from funky lighting to magazine designs; from the Olympic torch to potentially life-saving furniture.
Some of the objects on display were really great contributions to the improvement of the world. Take, for instance, the earthquake-proof table, or the redesign of the ambulance which it is said could reduce hospital admissions by 60%. This is design at its best, with a social conscience.
Sadly, there is currently nothing from the Design Museum’s collection on display. It will be good when it moves to its new, larger premises in 2014.
Downstairs there is a great shop with loads of cool design-related stuff. I got my hands on Type Trumps 1 (I had already received Type Trumps 2 as a Christmas present). I also bought this cool mug, which I think sums up why I’m interested in design.
Then, sadly, it was time to make my way back up to Dundee.