Hello, My Name is Paul Smith at the Design Museum

I always enjoy a trip to the Design Museum. Located on the riverside alleyways and old wharves of Bermondsey it’s a great place to visit whilst taking advantage of a Thames path stroll past (or via) the Tate, Globe Theatre and even Fashion Museum. The Museum itself is also quiet and pleasant with a nice little cafe with river views. Stop off at the shop for some gifts (another gift idea here) or cards – Christmas or otherwise and it is a perfect half day out.

This exhibition takes you into the world of fashion designer Paul Smith, celebrating his career to date and charting the rise of a true British name that has become one of the world’s leading brands.

The show takes up the first floor of the Museum and begins with a recreation of Smith’s notoriously crowded office space, packed to the gills with an eclectic collection of nick-nacks, photographs, models, CDs, boxes, books (piled perilously high) and even a bicycle.

The wide central aisle is lined floor to ceiling with wildly varied artworks from his own collection whilst other rooms recreate his first shop space (minuscule!), the first collection promotion (in a hotel room), a room of mirrors (not sure why that was there?), a selection of his design influences and products, a film and a long space with a selection of his fashion creations.

With Smith’s varied output his primary focus in men’s fashion is lost in this exhibition which looks rather more broadly at his life and influences. It is nevertheless an enjoyable, charming and interesting, if lightweight, exhibition.

Hello, My Name is Paul Smith runs until 9 March 2014. Details at www.designmuseum.org

Opens daily 10am – 5.45pm. Open on all bank and national holidays, except 25 and 26 December.

Related articles

• Paul Smith design showcase is ‘absolutely not a retrospective’ (theguardian.com)
• Hello , My name is Paul Smith (disobeyingthebrief.wordpress.com)
• Review: Hello, My Name Is Paul Smith – A must-see for anyone interested in design and creativity (metro.co.uk)