Design has the power to make history and actively shape change. The new exhibition, Pirouette: Turning Points in Design, on view at MoMA from 26 January to 18 October 2025, focuses on this role of design as an agent of progress. The exhibition features over 100 objects from MoMA’s collection, spanning the 1930s to the present day. Iconic everyday objects such as the Sony Walkman and Post-it notes will be on view alongside experimental works such as Tejo Remy’s You Can’t Lay Down Your Memory and Sabine Marcelis’s Candy Cube.

Curated by Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator of the Department of Architecture and Design, the exhibition features a selection of technological innovations, distinctive symbols and everyday objects. Well-known examples include the I ❤ NY logo, the Walkman and the Macintosh 128K home computer. Lesser-known pieces that appeal to niche audiences of fans and experts are also featured. Together, the objects demonstrate how design, through material and technological experimentation, addresses both societal and personal needs.

The exhibition highlights how design shapes our lives by offering new perspectives or challenging established behaviours. The Telfar shopping bag, for example, redefines luxury, while technological milestones such as portable music players and personal computers remind us of design’s profound influence on everyday life. These innovations show how designers are contributing to a more sustainable and equitable future, creatively driving progress and change.

Pirouette advocates the transformative power of design and inspires visitors to embrace new perspectives and bold solutions in times of change.