The Center for Design and Material Culture is the primary destination for the multi-disciplinary study of material culture and design at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Featured Exhibitions & Programs
Lace from the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection
On view in the Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery now and EXTENDED through December 5.
Politics at Home: Textiles as American History
On view in the Ruth Davis Design Gallery now and EXTENDED through November 14.
Weaving Connections: New Interpretations of Historical American Textile Design
Join us online November 2 for a conversation about historical coverlets and contemporary weaving practices.
Explore our Collection and Galleries
Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection
The Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection is one of the nation’s largest university-held textile collections with over 13,000 textile artifacts spanning 16 centuries and 108 countries.
Ruth Davis Design Gallery
The Ruth Davis Design Gallery is an exhibition space focused on the processes and results of design. Exhibitions include national, international makers, and students from the School of Human Ecology’s Design Studies program.
Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery
The Lynn Mecklenburg Textile Gallery provides a space dedicated to rotating exhibitions of the School of Human Ecology's Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection.