From Museum of Decorative Arts to Design Museum: The Case of the Design museum Gent

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe evolution from museums of decorative arts towards design museums suggests changes in the status and public appreciation of design. By distinguishing between ideal and real aspects of this trend, this paper examines the history of the Design museum Gent (Ghent Design Museum). Specifically, it focuses on two parameters: first, the museum's gradual name change from “museum of decorative arts” to “design museum” and, second, its acquisition policy. Far from representing an evolution towards greater differentiation between design museums and art museums, the Design museum Gent's gradual evolution points to a greater convergence of the two.