In the early days of exhibiting design in museums, the lines between shopping and curating were blurred. Manufacturers often sponsored the shows, and they might travel to trade shows or department stores after showing their collections in museums. Among the first MoMA design shows was Useful Objects Under $5, making the connection between price and taste explicit. This panel will look at three early design exhibition programs: Useful Objects and Good Design at MoMA, the Everyday Art Gallery at the Walker Art Center, and An Exhibition for Modern Living at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Panelists include: Will Myers, Manager of Business Development, Retail Division, Museum of Modern Art; Monica Obniski, Assistant Curator of American decorative arts, Art Institute of Chicago; Andrew Blauvelt, Design Director and Curator, Walker Art Center.