The Design Museum was founded in 1873 originally as the Museum of Applied Arts and as a teaching collection of craft and design. Design Museum is an internationally operating museum and an international meeting place of design that maintains the Finnish national collection of design. Design Museum is a specialist museum that has a collection of 75 000 pieces and over 40 000 drawings and sketches. The museum is responsible for research and documentation in its field, and for holding exhibitions on design history and contemporary themes. The museum organizes international touring exhibitions and events on Finnish art and design. Design Museum is a member of ICOM. Besides main premises at Design Museum Helsinki, other venues operated by the Design Museum are Design Museum Arabia, Design Museum Iittala and Design Museum Nuutajärvi. The Design Museum has operated in its current premises (formerly Brobergska Mixed School) since 1978.
