The museum says it also aims to nurture the designers of tomorrow and highlight design’s role in the transition to net zero. They also want to increase visitor numbers to 800,000 by 2029.
The move comes as the museum celebrates a record-breaking year, with 260,000 people flocking to The World of Tim Burton, making the show about the film director the most visited in the museum’s history.
Meanwhile Barbie: The Exhibition attracted more than 144,000 people, making it the museum’s third most poplar show.
It hopes the changes at its Grade II-listed building in Holland Park will allow it to rotate its collections more frequently, display new acquisitions more quickly and change displays rapidly “to tell new stories” and showcase major developments such as new technology “with ease and without being outdated too quickly”.
Tim Marlow, director and CEO of the Design Museum, said: “Expanding and improving our permanent gallery for our 40th anniversary is at the heart of our new Transformation 2029 strategy to future-proof the museum for the next decade and beyond.
“We are delighted to have received this initial support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and thanks to all those who contribute to the National Lottery we can now develop these exciting opportunities further.”