Viewing Wes Anderson: The Archives at Design Museum

The Design Museum’s Wes Anderson: The Archives is a landmark retrospective of the feted filmmaker. Created in collaboration with La Cinémathèque française and curated by Johanna Agerman Ross and Lucia Savi (with Matthieu Orléan), it offers an unprecedented look at three decades of Anderson’s work, showcasing over 700 objects drawn from his personal archive.

Visitors can explore storyboards, polaroids, sketches, and handwritten notebooks, as well as miniature sets, stop-motion puppets, and dozens of costumes from key films. The Wick’s highlights include a stunning, candy-pink three-metre-wide model of The Grand Budapest Hotel, the Fendi fur coat worn by Margot Tenenbaum in The Royal Tenenbaums, vending machines from Asteroid City, and of course, Mr. Fox in his signature corduroy suit.

The exhibition is laid out film-by-film, tracing Anderson’s evolution from early shorts like Bottle Rocket (screened as part of the show) through to his most recent work. In addition to finished props and sets, rarely work-in-progress maquettes and learn about Anderson’s love of hands-on techniques, particularly in stop-motion animation. A dazzling dive into Anderson’s signature aesthetic and symmetry that underscores how design, craft, and narrative intertwine in his incredible, irresistible work.