Building Connections Through Design at The Branch Museum

Nestled within Richmond’s historic Branch House, the Branch Museum of Architecture and Design invites visitors to explore the intersection of art, innovation, and community. Housed in a stunning example of early 20th-century Tudor-Jacobean architecture, the museum goes beyond static displays; it activates conversations on how design shapes our lives, inspires creativity, and enriches our shared spaces.

Through rotating exhibitions, hands-on workshops, and thoughtful programming, the Branch Museum transforms a beautiful historic structure into a vibrant hub of creative learning. From showcasing the stories behind local and global design to celebrating everyday artistry, the museum bridges history with contemporary culture, making design accessible and meaningful for all.

This spotlight explores how the Branch Museum upholds its commitment to design excellence and community engagement, inviting everyone to see—and feel design differently.

CultureWorks: How would you describe the mission of The Branch Museum to someone who’s never visited?

Branch Museum of Design: At The Branch Museum of Design, we champion work that shifts perspectives and reimagines design’s role in shaping culture. We’re proud to be Virginia’s only design museum and one of the top 20 design museums in the country—a space where design isn’t just about objects, but about ideas, systems, and change.

 While our tagline, “Where Perspectives Shift,” is new, it reflects who we’ve always been. When the Branch House was built in 1919, it was ahead of its time—equipped with indoor electricity, an elevator, and a central vacuum. Those innovations weren’t just for show—they represented a belief in pushing boundaries, in using design to imagine what’s possible.

That same spirit drives us today. Through our exhibitions, programs, and partnerships, we use design as a provocation—a way to spark conversations. We want visitors to see things differently when they leave—whether it’s how they understand their city or the everyday objects around them.

CultureWorks: Architecture and design can sometimes feel like niche subjects. How does The Branch work to make them accessible and relevant to all audiences?

Branch Museum of Design: One of the reasons we dropped “Architecture” from our name was for exactly that reason—we wanted to widen the aperture of our offerings. Renaming ourselves The Branch Museum of Design gave us the flexibility to do just that.

To us, design is the opposite of a niche. In fact, it’s everywhere. It’s the cars we drive, the sneakers we wear, the phones we carry—it’s the physical world we touch and interact with every day. Unlike fine art that might be viewed behind glass, design is lived. It’s functional, tactile, and woven into daily life. That makes it inherently accessible.

We love presenting exhibitions that invite visitors to shift their perspective on what design is—or what it can be. Whether that’s motorcycles, furniture, or fashion, we’re always looking for ways to connect design to real experiences and broaden the conversation.

CultureWorks: The Branch hosts a wide variety of exhibitions. How do you choose or curate what’s presented?

Branch Museum of Design: We use the idea of “shifting perspectives” as a guiding lens when evaluating potential exhibitions. We ask ourselves: Will this exhibition invite visitors to see something differently? Does it align with our mission to showcase design’s role in shaping culture?

Take our current exhibition, Refined, for example, which explores the design evolution of Vespa. What began as a practical solution to help postwar Italians navigate a country in ruins evolved into a global design icon—one that influenced fashion, cinema, and pop culture. That’s the kind of story we’re drawn to: where design is not only functional or beautiful but connected to social and cultural transformation.

CultureWorks: How do you see architecture and design contributing to Richmond’s cultural identity and future development?

Branch Museum of Design: Richmond has an incredibly rich creative community. We’re home to the VCU Brandcenter, recently ranked the #1 graduate advertising program in the U.S. by The One Club for Creativity, and VCUarts, the #1 public university for visual and performing arts based on research funding from the National Science Foundation. Add to that a nationally recognized street art scene, the VMFA, soon to become the fourth-largest art museum in the country by square footage, and the award-winning Martin Agency, and it’s clear that Richmond is—and has long been—a city shaped by creativity.

In that context, it makes perfect sense that Richmond is also home to Virginia’s only design museum.

Outsiders may still associate the city with its past as the capital of the Confederacy—but that’s not who we are anymore. Design, by nature, invites us to shift perspective—to reimagine what’s possible. And that’s exactly what this city and its people have done.

We see our presence in Richmond as part of that ongoing transformation—an opportunity to help redefine the city through the lens of design and cultural progress. But while Richmond is our home and foundation, our aspirations reach beyond the city.

By 2027, our goal is to become one of the most talked-about design museums in the country—a place where design-driven exhibitions, conversations, and ideas are helping shape culture on a national scale. And as we grow, we see that visibility bringing prestige not only to Richmond, but to the Commonwealth of Virginia as a whole.

CultureWorks: What kind of educational opportunities or workshops does the museum offer for students or lifelong learners?

Branch Museum of Design: We believe that design is for everyone—which is why we build educational opportunities into everything we do. For each exhibition, we offer public programming that brings the work to life—things like Designer Discussions, curator-led tours, creative workshops, and hands-on activities that are accessible to learners of all ages.

We also host special events like our mini-concert series, which pairs live music with musician conversations, creating a more immersive and intimate experience. Whether you're a student just discovering the world of design or a lifelong learner looking to engage more deeply, there's something here for you.

CultureWorks: Are there any upcoming exhibitions, events, or initiatives you're especially excited about?

Branch Museum of Design: Yes—there’s so much happening at The Branch right now, and it all feels incredibly energizing. On September 10, we will open Confluence, a new exhibition by Vietnamese American artist Kenny Nguyen. He uses silk, a traditionally delicate material, to create sculptural forms that blur the lines between painting, textile, and sculpture.

Below is a sampling of artworks that will be on display as part of this exhibit. We hope to see you at the free reception on Wednesday, September 10 from 6-8pm.