Room 76: 20th century, design since 1945

The displays in this gallery explore art and design from the end of the Second World War until the present day. In the years immediately after the war, product design was seen as a major tool for social and economic reconstruction. Particularly in western society, personal style, fashion and youth culture became the focus of much design and innovation. But craft values persisted and coexisted with high-style statements.

Technological innovations – such as the miniaturisation of electronics – enabled entirely new object types to develop, for example mobile telephones, which in turn influenced social behaviour. At the beginning of the 21st century concerns about ecological sustainability and the potential of new techniques, such as computer-aided design and manufacture, are two themes addressed by designers.

There are four distinct zones in this gallery, each broadly reflecting a period and themes in design since 1945. the chronology is not strict and the periods overlap, representing the complexity of design and society in recent times.

Room 76 is on Level 3 of the V&A South Kensington