“70 Years of Design – Masterpieces Selected by Peter Zec”: Red Dot Design Museum presents anniversary exhibition starting 7 October
Essen/Germany, 6 October 2025
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On the occasion of its 70th anniversary, the Red Dot Design Museum looks back on its eventful history, which began in 1955 with the “Permanent Exhibition of Beautifully Designed Industrial Goods” in Essen.
“70 Years of Design – Masterpieces Selected by Peter Zec” brings together products from seven decades that exemplify pioneering design and outstanding creative quality.
The exhibition has been curated by Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of Red Dot and, for the past 34 years, head of the Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen – the institution behind the museum. His personal comments and expert assessments make the presentation a plea for quality and consistency in design.
The special exhibition will be open to visitors at the Red Dot Design Museum, located on the Zollverein UNESCO World Heritage Site in Essen, Germany, until 1 February 2026.
70 Years of Promoting Good Design
On 5 October 1955, the “Ständige Schau formschöner Industrieerzeugnisse” (Permanent Exhibition of Beautifully Designed Industrial Goods) opened in the Kleine Haus of Villa Hügel in Essen. Ten years after the end of the war, it formed part of an image campaign by the steel manufacturer Krupp, but above all, it was intended to draw the attention of German industry to the subject of “good design”. In the decades that followed, both the management and the location of the annual exhibition, as well as of the institution behind it – initially “Industrieform e. V.”, later the “Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen” – changed several times.
In 1991, Professor Dr. Peter Zec took charge of the Design Zentrum and established the Red Dot Award as one of the world’s most prestigious design competitions. For more than three decades, he has shaped the international design scene and, as a speaker, author and editor of numerous publications, has inspired enthusiasm for good design worldwide.
A Personal Selection of Iconic Objects
For this exhibition, Zec has made a very personal selection of products from the past 70 years that have shaped and accompanied him throughout his life. These include the Fiat Nuova 500 from 1957 (“The dream of freedom – and our first car.”), the Sixtant SM 31 electric shaver by Braun (1962, “My first lesson about good design from my father.”), the EA 119 office chair by Ray and Charles Eames (1958, “The chair on which I wrote the book ‘Information Design’.”), the Tizio desk lamp by Artemide (1972, “My start in professional life.”) and the first iPad (2010, “I thought it was completely unnecessary. Then I was proven wrong.”).
A Journey through Design History
With more than 60 exhibits, the show takes visitors on a journey through design history, spanning from the 1950s to the present day. It illustrates how the form, function and social significance of products have evolved over the course of seven decades.
“70 Years of Design – Masterpieces Selected by Peter Zec”
7 October 2025 until 1 February 2026
Public Guided Tours
The museum offers free public tours every Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., which provide an initial insight into the exhibition.
Further information is available at: www.red-dot-design-museum.org
Red Dot Design Museum – Opening Hours and Admission Fees
Tuesday–Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last admission: 5 p.m.)
Saturday, Sunday & on public holidays: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last admission: 5 p.m.)
Mondays: closed (except on public holidays and during NRW school holidays)
Admission for special exhibitions: 10 euros (concessions: 5 euros)
Children under 12: free admission
Fridays: Pay What You Want
Press contact
Astrid Ruta | Konzept. Text. Redaktion.
Phone: +49 201 84079533
E-mail: museum(at)astridruta.de