Placing the art of design in its sociological and technological context, the DESIGN collection tells the story of the 20th century through the industrial objects that have made their mark on it. The objects reflect their time, while at the same time anticipating the future. Just like a piece of art, an industrial object is a mirror of its era, though in a more direct and explicit manner than a painting or a sculpture. The industrial object obeys two fundamental criteria: It needs to be functional, perform its task in daily life - and after all must be sold. Therefore, it has to be technically innovative and esthetically pleasant. The public taste is something it logically plays with - matching it or being way ahead of it.