The Design Museum is the world’s leading museum devoted to contemporary architecture and design. Its work encompasses all elements of design, including fashion, product and graphic design. Since it opened its doors in 1989 the museum has displayed everything from an AK-47 to high heels designed by Christian Louboutin. It has staged over 100 exhibitions, welcomed over seven million visitors and showcased the work of some of the world’s most celebrated designers and architects including Paul Smith, Zaha Hadid, Jonathan Ive, Frank Gehry, Eileen Gray and Dieter Rams. Skateboards, saris and the very first design exhibition by Ai Weiwei are among the highlights programmed for 2023. 

On 24 November 2016, the Design Museum relocated to Kensington, west London. John Pawson converted the interior of a 1960s modernist building to create a new home for the Design Museum giving it three times more space in which to show a wider range of exhibitions including Stanley Kubrick: The Exhibition, Moving to Mars, Amy: Beyond the Stage, Sneakers Unboxed: Studio to Street, Electronic: From Kraftwerk to The Chemical Brothers, Charlotte Perriand: The Modern Life and California: Designing Freedom, and significantly extended its learning programme.  

The Design Museum exists to make the impact of design visible to all. Its mission is: to build public awareness of design by connecting design with people’s lives and passions; to reflect the designer’s role at the forefront of social, technological and environmental change; and to serve the design community. Design is a practice, a diverse discipline, infinitely rich in approaches and characters. It is a young discipline, whose role in the world is evolving. The museum's unique approach to working with designers is to invite them to ‘think in public’ with us.

Lord Mandelson joined the Board as Chair in 2016. Having led the successful appointment of Tim Marlow OBE as Chief Executive and Director, he has steered the Design Museum through the pandemic and overseen the creation of the Future Observatory, a national programme for design research. The Board is now looking to appoint his successor, someone who, in partnership with the executive team, will shape the next exciting phase of the Museum.

The Chair is responsible for:

• Leading the Board of Trustees, ensuring that it fulfils its collective responsibility for the governance of the Design Museum, and delivery of its objectives and values
• Establishing an effective, supportive, and stimulating working relationship between the Board and the Chief Executive, and Museum staff, recognising the proper separation between governance and executive management
• Working closely with the Board and Executive to support and actively participate in the fundraising activities of the Design Museum, providing access to useful contacts and networks
• Working with the Board of Trustees and the Executive team to drive forward the Museum’s commitment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)
• Playing a major role in representing the Design Museum externally in the UK and globally, including building and maintaining successful relationships with patrons, donors, partners, and governmental organisations

The overall time commitment is estimated to be c. 2-3 days per month.

A personal passion for design and the power of design to transform lives and enrich society

• Leadership experience of a significant organisation at main-board level as an Executive or Non-Executive Director, ideally with some prior experience in a chairing capacity, whether in the commercial, public, or not-for-profit sectors
• A strong understanding of the role of Non-Executive Chair, with a focus on leading and developing Board members and working closely with the Chief Executive to provide strong leadership to the wider organisation
• A strong network, with the willingness to participate actively in the Design Museum’s fundraising and development activities
• Fluent and persuasive communication skills, with the ability to represent the Museum effectively externally as well as internally
• Committed and able to nurture a diverse and inclusive environment where staff, volunteers and Board members feel supported and able to reach their full potential

Rt Hon Lord Mandelson, Outgoing Chair
Asif Khan MBE, Deputy Chair
Carl Anderson
Susan Boster
Nicholas Bull
Sebastian Orby Conran
Lady Vicki Conran
Dahlia Dana
Dominic Field
Eva Jiricna
Suhair Khan
Davina Mallinckrodt
Michelle Ogundehin
Mike Peck

You can find out more about the current Board here.