Sharing know- ledge at Design Museum Gent
Knowledge is meant to be shared. That's why Design Museum Gent is a resource for everyone. We believe in an open approach: our collection and expertise are there to help shape the world of tomorrow. We make our resources as accessible as possible for researchers, makers, curators and design enthusiasts. How can we help you?
Services
As we prepare for the Grand Reopening of the museum on 3 October 2026, our team is fully focused on this major project. For this reason, we have temporarily suspended outgoing loans.
Our collection is full of stories, and we are happy to share our knowledge. Do you have a question about a particular object or need support with your research? Eva Van Regenmortel is happy to help.
Email: designmuseum.collectie@stad.gent
Please note that while we are happy to answer questions about the historical and artistic significance of objects, we do not provide valuations or comment on their financial value.
Our collection is continually becoming more accessible online. Looking for an image for a publication or project? Start bysearching our online collection database, where many images can be viewed and downloaded directly. If you cannot find what you need, feel free to contact us.
Copyright and licences
Design is intellectual property. Many objects in our collection remain protected by copyright for up to 70 years after the designer's death. The licence conditions for each image are clearly indicated in the online collection database.
- CC BY-NC-ND: The rights holder allows digital distribution of the image. You may reuse it provided you credit the designer, use it only for non-commercial purposes and do not alter the image.
- In Copyright: The museum has permission to display the image online, but no Creative Commons licence applies. Clearing copyright is entirely the user's responsibility. These images may not be reproduced, published or distributed without the permission of the rights holder and are therefore not available in high resolution.
Source credit
When reusing images, please credit Design Museum Gent as the source.If you use an image in a printed publication or book, we would greatly appreciate receiving a complimentary copy for our library. Please send it to: Eva Van Regenmortel, Drabstraat 12, 9000 Ghent
For collection enquiries, email Annelies De Mey via designmuseum.collectie@stad.gent.
Journalists requiring images for publication can contact Bie Luyssaert at bie.luyssaert@stad.gent.
Research
Every object tells a story. Design Museum Gent preserves extensive archives and documentation that illuminate the history of design and craftsmanship.
Documentation collections
Researchers can consult extensive documentation files on designers and companies, including the National Documentation Centre for Applied Arts (NDK), the Moniek E. Bucquoye Documentation Collection and the product catalogues of the Ghent design shop Modern Form. These collections are currently searchable through the Archive Hub of the Flanders Architecture Institute (VAi).
Private archives
We preserve the professional archives of designers including Albert Van huffel, Gaston Eysselinck, Geo Henderick, Pieter De Bruyne and Joost Maréchal, as well as the complete archive of the Interieur Biennale Kortrijk. Much of the visual material from the Albert Van huffel archive is already available online through the BALaT platform of theRoyal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA).
Museum archives
Alongside the collection, we also preserve the museum's institutional archive, documenting the history of the museum itself. Although it is not formally part of the collection, it is an important resource for research. Parts of this archive are transferred over time to Ghent City Archives.
The Arts Library at the Bijloke Campus brings together the collections of Design Museum Gent, the Ghent Guides, KASK, S.M.A.K. and STAM. It is one of the region's leading resources for visual art, design and urban culture.
What will you find?
Students, researchers and design enthusiasts can consult more than 100,000 books, including exhibition catalogues, monographs and publications on art theory, architecture, film and design.
Special collections
The library also cares for an exceptional collection of artists' books, which can be consulted by appointment.
Visit the library
The Arts Library is open to everyone and free to visit during opening hours.
Bijloke Campus
Godshuizenlaan 2A
9000 Ghent
+32 9 243 36 89
kunstenbibliotheek@hogent.be
Questions? Email eva.vanregenmortel@stad.gent