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V&A Dundee
V&A Dundee
Exhibition

Scottish Design Galleries

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  • Dates

  • Scottish Design Galleries

  • Free

Explore the everyday relevance of design and how it improves our lives, experience the processes that underpin it and discover little-known stories of Scottish design with international impact.

Ranging from architecture to fashion, healthcare to furniture, and engineering to video game design, around 300 exhibits have been drawn from the V&A’s world-famous collections of art, design and performance, as well as museums, private collections and designers across Scotland and the world.

Curated in collaboration with V&A South Kensington, our Scottish Design Galleries explore Scotland’s design landscape, historically and today.

Please note, the winged tiara is temporarily off display, but in the meantime you can read more about it here.

Key objects

This pistol is signed by the gunsmith Alexander Campbell and was made between 1740 and 1760.

This pair of classic Hunter ‘wellies’ dates from the 1980s, when the utilitarian boots became associated with the fashionable urban middle and upper classes.

Linoleum elephant sculpture designed by Eduardo Paolozzi as a promotional case for a 1972-73 catalogue from Michael Nairn & Co.

A 15th century book of illuminated manuscripts, made in Rouen in northern France around 1480 for a Scottish owner.

With more than 2,500 cushion-shaped, single-cut, circular-cut and rose-cut diamonds, this tiara features a pair of ‘en tremblant’ wings is constructed using wire-coiled springs so that they move slightly when worn.

This lavish chair was designed by artist Robert Home, the son of an eminent Berwickshire army surgeon.

This bookcase was designed by George Logan to be exhibited at the 1901 Glasgow Exhibition.

snap40 is a wearable device that uses artificial intelligence to monitor a hospital patient’s vital signs, alerting physicians and nurses via wireless technology if there is a problem.

This dress was part of Holly Fulton’s Autumn/Winter 2011 collection.

Shop

Photo of the V&A Dundee kaleidoscope

V&A Dundee kaleidoscope by Lesley Barnes

Inspired by Scottish inventor Sir David Brewster’s kaleidoscope, as found in the Scottish Design Galleries, Lesley Barnes has designed a new pattern especially for V&A Dundee.

£12 - Buy now
Photo of the story of scottish design book

The Story of Scottish Design

Throughout the modern age, Scotland has repeatedly revealed itself to be a pioneering leader in design innovation on the international stage. The Story of Scottish Design showcases these significant achievements.

£24.95 - Buy now
photo of magnets

Scottish Design Pick and Mix magnets

These magnets are a colourful celebration of iconic design stories such as that of the Orkney chair, Hunter wellies and the Fair Isle jumper, all of which are showcased in the Scottish Design Gallery.

£2 - Buy now