Initiated in 1866, with the ambition to collect examples of excellent design in order to inspire local craftsmen, the collection has grown over the years to around 500,000 objects spanning 4,000 years. This makes the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MK&G) one of the most important destinations for design in Germany. Displayed in more than 10,000 square metres, the MK&G offers a unique collection ranging from antiquity to contemporary innovations, covering the European, Islamic and Far Eastern cultural spheres.

The diversity and quality of the exhibits allows for interesting references and connections to be made between epochs and cultures, past and present. The museum defines itself as a space for discourse focusing on one of the most important questions of our time: how to shape our world? In this sense, it strives for collaboration, inclusion, inspiration, transparency and interdisciplinarity. Therefore, knowledge transfer and research set the foundation for the museum’s activities.