The Design Museum in London is presenting a new exhibition that spotlights Black designers influencing modern creative expression. Called The Nue Black Aesthetic, the display features 16 lead designers alongside contributions from 20 additional creators, all connected to the UK or its diaspora. The show includes work from product designer Andu Masebo and architect Giles Tettey Nartey, alongside artists like Althea McNish and designer Yinka Ilori, reflecting a broad spectrum of contemporary Black creativity.
Curators Tiya Dahyabhai and Charlene Prempeh, who also wrote Now You See Me: 100 Years of Black Creatives, structured the show around a “Nue” concept—merging elements of the 1960s Black Aesthetic and the 1980s New Black Aesthetic to capture today’s varied and evolving creative scene. Prempeh, who works as a critic and consultant for the international design industry, emphasized that Black design is frequently dismissed as “crafty” rather than recognized for its intellectual rigor. The exhibition counters this by showcasing both the conceptual depth and technical precision of the work, demonstrating how Black designers engage with material, process, and cultural narratives in sophisticated ways.
Visitors will encounter pieces spanning fashion, architecture, and beyond, including Bianca Saunders’ bespoke Met Gala suit worn by Usher in 2023 and Foday Dumbuya’s 2024/25 Arsenal football kit, created through his fashion label Labrum. The exhibition is divided into thematic sections such as Community Building and Identity as Inspiration, illustrating how cultural heritage and collective experiences shape design approaches. Unlike Prempeh’s book, which chronicled Black design history, the show examines relationships and questions of value within the discipline, inviting viewers to reconsider how design is perceived and evaluated.
A key highlight is Ini Archibong’s Mfon, a Murano glass chandelier accompanied by an original ambient soundtrack. The word Mfon means “grace” in Nigeria’s Ibibio language, and the piece serves as the exhibition’s closing installation, encouraging reflection on perceptions of Black design. Positioned as a site-specific work, it blends visual and auditory elements to create a contemplative space, reinforcing the show’s themes of connection and introspection.
The exhibition will be on view from 6 November 2026 to 8 August 2027 at The Design Museum. Dahyabhai and Prempeh’s curation ensures the display remains relevant to both historical context and contemporary conversations about Black creativity, with the aim of leaving visitors curious about the broader implications of Black design in modern culture.
