Collecting

In its collection archives, the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich preserves, documents and researches holdings of international importance.

Originally, the Kunstgewerbemuseum Zürich held a collection of models for industrial and design education. Today's collection focuses primarily on objects from the beginning of industrialization to the present day. In addition to works from Switzerland, international works are also included. Of the more than 580,000 objects, Helvetica accounts for around 75%, and over 99% of the objects are owned by the museum, 1% are on permanent loan.

The acquisition policy is based on four collection profiles, which are constantly reviewed and, if necessary, adapted to current developments.

The collection holdings are visible in the museum's exhibitions, on loan to exhibition venues in Switzerland and abroad, as well as in the museum's own and external publications.

Graphics

The graphics collection, which has existed since the museum was founded, is unique in Switzerland in its diversity and its current focus on European graphic design

Typografie-Zeichensätze und abstrakte Grafikformen nebeneinander.

Arts and crafts

Alongside the Graphics Collection, the Decorative Arts Collection is the oldest collection of the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich and one of the most important collections of international arts and crafts in Switzerland.

Geflecht aus gelben und braunen Streifen neben Holzpuppe mit erhobenem Arm.

Industrial design

The design collection includes serially manufactured products from the 20th century and the present day as well as their ideas and processes.

Bunter Stuhl neben einem Lichtschalter.

Poster

The poster collection brings together international posters of all subject categories from 1860 to the present day. It is one of the most extensive and important archives of its kind in the world.

Werbeplakat mit Sonnencreme und Sonnenbrille, Brasilien-Thema.

Collection online

Bildschirm mit eMuseum-Website im Lagerraum.

The eMuseum is the largest Swiss online database for design and art. To date, over 100,000 works can be searched and filtered by author, title, date, category or object name. Alternatively, users can browse through the collection and find inspiration. The eMuseum also offers an insight into the museum's collection work.
The data on objects, people and exhibitions is constantly being added to and expanded.