M+ exhibition explores extraordinary in everyday objects

This summer, M+ in Hong Kong invites visitors to rediscover the extraordinary hiding within the ordinary. From chopsticks and toothbrushes to buses and traffic lights, the objects we encounter daily are, in fact, products of thoughtful design that quietly shape how we live, move, and connect.

Visitors interact with installations at the “Design Ah! Experience the Wonder of Everyday Design” exhibition. Photos from the M+’s WeChat account

A new exhibition, “Design Ah! Experience the Wonder of Everyday Design,” transforms 21 everyday objects and 10 routine actions into an interactive exploration of creativity and human behavior. The exhibition challenges the notion that art belongs to distant, hallowed spaces — instead, it reveals that artistry resides in the very objects we touch, use, and often overlook.

More than an exhibition — an experience

Through hands-on games, participatory installations, and immersive audiovisual environments, visitors are encouraged to look closely, try things out, and learn through play. The exhibition engages all the senses — sight, sound, and touch — inviting audiences to experience how design shapes our most ordinary habits and everyday moments.

Design and the everyday

Thousands of designed objects surround us in daily life. Each one — from the humble chopstick to the city bus — embodies a designer’s thoughtful consideration of how to improve functionality, enhance quality of life, and foster human connection. “Design Ah!” invites visitors to view these familiar objects through fresh eyes, exploring how we use our bodies — our eyes, hands, and feet — to perceive and make sense of the world around us.

A Hong Kong twist

In a nod to its host city, the exhibition incorporates elements that resonate with Hong Kong’s visual environment and culinary traditions. This local infusion adds an extra layer of familiarity and delight, allowing visitors to experience the city’s unique cultural fabric through the lens of design.

The concept behind “Ah!”

The exhibition draws its inspiration from the acclaimed Japanese educational television program “Design Ah! neo,” produced by NHK. Curated by a distinguished team, it presents a vision of design that is at once playful, ingenious, and deeply observant.

Dates: Through Jan. 10, 2027

Venue: Main Hall Gallery, M+, West Kowloon Cultural District, Hong Kong