Designing everyday

Graphic Design Museum – Holland

How a society establishes its cultural significance, and therefore the importance it places upon its national achievements, is partly achieved through the creation of its ‘Museums’. In cosmopolitan Melbourne, cultural capital of the universe, we have consistently displayed our hand, and built architectural monuments to our national heroes.

Here in Melbourne we have the appropriately named Melbourne Museum. OK, pretty standard. How about the National Sports Museum at the ‘G’. Well, understandable, given our rabid obsession with playing with our balls and other sporty pursuits. But I have a hard time accepting that my hard earned went into building the ‘blinkered’ vision of the times, ‘Champions: The National Racing Museum’ at Federation Square. Now, I am aware we graphic designers are meant to be broadly represented through the National Design Centre, but I recently found out that the Dutch, masters of design, have built a ‘Museum of Graphic Design’. Very impressive.

It got me thinking that this sort of public commitment to validating the contribution graphic design has played in a society’s achievements, would significantly make my job easier. And given that my mum still doesn’t really understand what it is I do everyday, a graphic design museum here in Melbourne would hopefully help the next generation understand the value of great design, and give design a greater importance. Sounds good to me. Who knows, if this type of museum could be built, at the very least we may never have to see or hear the term ‘Graphics Designs’ again.