This autumn, the Design Museum Brussels turns the spotlight on the often-overlooked contributions of women in design. From October 16, visitors can explore two new exhibitions: Here We Are! Women in Design 1900 – Today and Untold Stories – Women Designers in Belgium 1880-1980.
Photo: Christoph Sagel © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2021
Here We Are!, an international retrospective created by the Vitra Design Museum, traces 120 years of women’s work in design. Featuring 80 pioneering female designers, the exhibition delves into their creative journeys and the challenges they faced. Expect to see work from trailblazers like Eileen Gray, Florence Knoll, and Charlotte Perriand, as the exhibition explores their vital, yet often underrepresented, role in shaping modern design.
The second exhibition, Untold Stories, dives into the Belgian context. It showcases the work of over 50 women designers who were active between 1880 and 1980. This exhibition goes beyond aesthetics, offering insight into the societal systems that impacted these creators and how their contributions were largely invisible in the mainstream narrative. From ceramics and lace to bold typographic designs, these works represent a rich, yet lesser-known, part of Belgian design history.
Both exhibitions reflect the museum’s mission to offer fresh perspectives on design and spark dialogue around the ongoing struggles for visibility and recognition in the creative industries.
The exhibitions open on October 16 at Design Museum Brussels, accompanied by talks, guided tours, and other activities.
