The Design museum is currently housed in a former 1940s banana warehouse on the south bank of the River Thames in the Shad Thames area in South East London. The conversion of this warehouse altered it beyond recognition to resemble a building in the International Modernist style of the 1930s. This was funded by many companies, designers and benefactors. The museum was principally designed by the Conran group, with exhibitions over two floors, and a "Design Museum Tank" exhibition space out by the water front,Terance Conran aided in this conversion, as it was his concept to create such a museum of modern design. The Design Museum is moving to Kensington in 2016 to a bigger and better location.

The Design Museum offers inspiring insights into the world of design with exhibitions on fashion, architecture, furniture, graphic, product, transport and digital design. Alongside its cutting edge programme of temporary exhibitions the museum also hosts a variety of talks and family activities.