Red Dot Design Museum

Red Dot Design Museum
First-rate contemporary design is the theme that unites the exhibits on display at this museum, which is housed within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Peruse beautifully presented galleries of contemporary design objects when you explore the Red Dot Design Museum. As one of three Red Dot Design institutions in the world, Essen joins Singapore and Taipei in the forefront of the field in showcasing interesting objects from the everyday to the unusual. About 2,000 exhibits feature objects and products from 45 different countries, highlighting new innovations in design. Just as impressive as the galleries, the museum’s location within the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex highlights the intriguing industrial design of Essen’s former coal mine.

Walk toward the Red Dot Design Museum and be awed by the Zeche Zollverein building’s stunning symmetry. Built in the 1920s to be used as a boiler house for the city’s coal mine complex, the World Heritage-Listed building combines Bauhaus symmetry with industrial simplicity. Enter the building and begin exploring over 43,000 square feet (4,000 square meters) of exhibition space.

Check out intriguing displays of products and objects. You’ll be taken on a journey through current trends and innovations from everyday kitchenware to elegant contemporary lighting design. Design icons from the present day are also on display, with features on the technology brands we use every day. Look for an ultra-light gyroplane, innovations in sailboat design and fascinating new directions in communication technology.

Investigate some of the museum’s special exhibitions, which host temporary displays of design items. In July, see a showcase of the products that have been awarded the year’s Red Dot Awards. Visit the world-class hub in autumn to see new exhibitions that focus on the award-winning products from the communication design competition.

The Red Dot Design Museum is located in Essen’s northeastern region and can be reached by tram from the city’s main railway hub within 20 minutes. There is an admission fee, with free entrance for children under the age of 12. Visit on Friday for pay-what-you-feel admission. Book a guided tour in English to gain a better insight into the displays and the themes of the exhibitions. The museum is open every day except Mondays, Dec. 24, 25 and 31 and New Year’s Day.

Popular places to visit


Top Red Dot Design Museum Hotel Deals

McDreams Hotel Essen-City
McDreams Hotel Essen-City
Altendorfer Str. 220, Essen
McDreams Hotel Essen-City
hotel friends Zeche Zollverein - Essen
hotel friends Zeche Zollverein - Essen
Martin-Kremmer-Strasse 1, Essen
hotel friends Zeche Zollverein - Essen
NH Essen
NH Essen
4 out of 5
Am Porscheplatz 9, Essen
NH Essen
Ramada by Wyndham Essen
Ramada by Wyndham Essen
4 out of 5
Schuetzenbahn 58, Essen, NW
Ramada by Wyndham Essen
GHOTEL hotel & living Essen
GHOTEL hotel & living Essen
3.5 out of 5
Hachestrasse 63, Essen
GHOTEL hotel & living Essen
Holiday Inn Essen - City Centre, an IHG Hotel
Holiday Inn Essen - City Centre, an IHG Hotel
Frohnhauser Str. 6, Essen, NW
Holiday Inn Essen - City Centre, an IHG Hotel
the niu Cobbles
the niu Cobbles
Friedrichstraße 43, Essen, NW
the niu Cobbles
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.