Viewing Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style

Swimming is something many of us are fanatical about – 10% of the British population swim at least twice a month, making it one of the most popular sports in the UK. Whether swimming for pleasure or leisure, in a pool or in the wild – our collective passion for the water is here to stay.

The Design Museum’s new exhibition Splash! explores the last century of swimming through design, from sports performance and fashion to architecture. Divided into three sections, representing the pool, the lido and nature, Splash! evokes the way design has evolved with our changing relationship to the water.

The story begins in the 1920s, when swimwear began to be made and marketed for swimming and beach holidays, and through 200 objects moves (among the big attractions include Pamela’s iconic red Baywatch swimsuit) through to the present day, linking swimming to shifting ideas about bodies and environmental issues.