Design in the Age of Big Data

Special exhibition
6 December 2018 – 2 June 2019 | 15:18 – 15:18 h

With “Design in the Age of Big Data”, the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen will feature an exhibition with innovative products that highlight the impact of digitisation on the products we use and the lives we lead. The exhibits include sensors, scanners, fitness trackers and medical devices for monitoring and visualising the human body, but also robots and drones. The products are classified into different topics, helping visitors to the exhibition to understand the complex interplay between humans, technology and data flows in the era of big data, how they affect each other mutually and what the consequences are for the design of intelligent products. The exhibition will be on show in the Red Dot Design Museum in Essen from 6 December 2018 to 2 June 2019.

Homo ex data – a new type of human is emerging
The exhibition concept is based on the article “Homo Ex Data” by Professor Dr. Peter Zec, the Founder and CEO of the Red Dot Design Award. In that article, which was published in the catalogue of the same name for an exhibition in Hong Kong last year, the design expert takes an in-depth look at the reality of living in an era of big data and draws the following conclusion: “After Homo sapiens and Homo faber, a new type of human is emerging that we call “Homo ex data”, a human whose living circumstances are determined by the generation and transfer of data.”

The structure of the exhibition is based on the different activities in the world of Homo ex data, ranging from the realm of data collection to data processing products via the field of controlling intelligent products right through to optimised end products such as robots or VR products. This highlights the complexity and multifaceted nature of this thematic area.

» Exhibition brochure (download)

Admission: 9 € (Reduced: 4 €)
Children under 12: Free admission

20 June 2023 – 31 May 2024

Special exhibition

Milestones in Contemporary Design 2023–2024

The exhibition on the first floor presents the best products of 2023 - the current milestones in international product design.

20 June 2023 – 31 May 2024

Special exhibition

Design on Stage 2023–2024

Award-winning products from all over the world are guests at the Red Dot Design Museum until the end of May 2024.

22 February 2024 – 2 June 2024

Special exhibition

Colours of Our Time – Identity and Difference in Design

The special exhibition on the theme of "Colour in Design" can be seen from 22 February to 2 June 2024.

12 April 2024 – 26 May 2024

Special exhibition

"World’s Best Communication Design 2023 and Highlights from NRW"

The Red Dot Design Museum in Essen is showing award-winning communication design from around the world in the exhibition "World’s Best Communication Design 2023 and Highlights from NRW".

26 May 2024 | 14:00 – 15:00 h

Public tour

Public guided tours: "Colours of Our Time"

The Red Dot Design Museum offers a half-hour public tour at 2 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. each Sunday. Participation is free of charge (however, the normal museum admission fee must be paid).

Please note: The tour will be conducted in German!

30 May 2024 | 13:00 – 15:00 h

Public tour

Family Day at Zollverein: Free public guided tours at the Red Dot Design Museum

Family Day at Zollverein: The Red Dot Design Museum is offering public tours every half hour between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Admission to the museum is on a "Pay What You Want" basis. Participation in the tours is free of charge.

Please note: The tours will be conducted in German

10 June 2024 – 24 June 2024

Permanent exhibition

Museum closed

The Red Dot Design Museum will be closed as of 10 until 24 June 2024 for the public. During this period, we are preparing two new special exhibitions for our visitors: "Milestones in Contemporary Design 2024" and "Design on Stage 2024". Starting Tuesday, 25 June 2024, the exhibitions will be open for the public.