Located in a former industrial area now at the heart of Milan, the ADI Design Museum was founded to display the historical collections from the Compasso d’Oro Award, the prestigious prize established in 1954 by Giò Ponti, to promote the quality of design pieces made in Italy. Together with the permanent collection, the museum hosts temporary exhibitions and various initiatives. While safeguarding the award's heritage, the museum aims to enhance design culture on a national and international level.

The building housing the ADI Design Museum deserves a visit as it represents a restoration of a historic site dating back to the 1930s, a depot for horse-drawn trams and then an electricity distribution station. The structure of this cultural centre has an overall area spanning more than 5.000 square metres, next to the lively Chinese district Paolo Sarpi and to the cultural institutions Fabbrica del Vapore and Fondazione Feltrinelli.