Design Icons of Media History
July 1 until December 31, 2026
As part of the World Design Capital 2026, this exhibition presents selected objects from the history of media and communication whose design extends far beyond their purely technical function. Join us on a new scavenger hunt within the museum!
How does a technical device become a mass medium? Often, it is the design that determines whether communication media find their way into our everyday lives and, ultimately, into the history of design. Form, function, and recognizability merge – and an everyday object becomes a cultural icon.
Starting July 1, 2026, the Museum of Communication in Frankfurt will feature a special design installation in its permanent exhibition. The objects illustrate how materials, forms, and user interfaces have evolved alongside technological progress – from early telephones and radio sets to record players and home computers, all the way to cell phones and digital user interfaces.
The exhibits demonstrate that design not only accompanies technological innovation, but also decisively shapes its use, perception, and cultural significance. In this way, they become more than mere utilitarian objects, reflecting the design, social, and media transformations that continue to shape our world today.
Discover selected objects in the permanent exhibition!
You’ll find our design icons in the foyer and in our permanent exhibition. For each object, a defining design element was selected and printed as an illustration on a drink coaster along with its story.
Visitors can pick up the coasters at the reception desk and start the game. To do so, they must find the matching objects in the “Participation,” “Control,” “Networking,” and “Acceleration” sections of our permanent exhibition. The coasters are free and, of course, you’re welcome to take them home – use them to set the table and let the designs and stories spark conversation!
Selection of Design Icons
Kuba Komet music console
In 1959/60, Gerhard Kubetschek designed this avant-garde phonograph cabinet in light curly maple and dark wenge. Its asymmetrically swivelling upper section with integrated television combines technical functionality with innovative furniture design.
Frankfurt telephone, 1929
In 1927, Harry Fuld launched the first design competition for telephone handsets as part of the ‘New Frankfurt’ initiative. In 1929, the Frankfurt model was featured in the ‘Frankfurter Register’. The design is characterised by its box-like shape and functional form.
Telephone W 48, 1948
The housing, made of insulating thermosetting plastic (Bakelite), determines the functional material design. The ivory-coloured luxury version, available at an additional cost, requires a different type of plastic (thermosetting resin), as Bakelite is only lightfast when coloured dark.
„Dog on its haunches“, 1929
In 1929, Siemens & Halske developed the ‘Dog on its haunches’, a telephone that combined all its controls into a compact form. The unusual design demonstrated the creative possibilities of the new material, Bakelite. Although Siemens patented the design, it was never mass-produced.
Computer NeXT Cube, NeXT Inc., 1989
In 1985, Steve Jobs founded NeXT to develop computers for the education sector. Paul Rand designed the logo as a rotated cube with coloured lettering. The black die-cast magnesium casing was designed by Hartmut Esslinger.
Apple II Europlus, 1979
In 1977, Apple launched the Apple II. As an all-in-one home computer complete with a case, keyboard and monitor, it made it easier for people to use computers. Colour graphics and modular expandability were key features of its design, making it ideal for home use.
Phonosuper SK 5, 1958
The minimalist box-like form, crafted from lacquered sheet steel, wood and transparent Plexiglas, embodies functional design. With its innovative Plexiglas cover, the ‘Snow White’ cabinet set a new standard for consumer electronics and became a 20th-century design classic.
Apple Macintosh 128k, 1984
In 1984, Apple launched the Macintosh. The compact, all-in-one plastic casing combined a graphical user interface with a mouse as the input device. Text-based commands were replaced by screen-based interaction. Windows, icons and direct operation characterised the design and influenced subsequent computer systems.
Volksempfänger VE 301, 1933
In 1933, Walter Maria Kersting unveiled a Bakelite prototype of the VE 301 at the Berlin Radio Exhibition. The new material, Bakelite, replaced the traditional wooden casing and enabled industrial mass production. Another new feature was the vertical arrangement of the receiver module and loudspeaker. It became a crucial tool of propaganda for the Nazi regime, proving how great design may be misused.
Apple iBook G3, 2000
The iBook was developed as the mobile counterpart to the iMac, bringing desktop design to a portable computer. Colourful plastic casings characterised the early design, later giving way to a minimalist white form and marking the transition to new design language at Apple.
Nokia 3210, 1999
This model was the first to feature an antenna integrated into the body. With it, Nokia developed a new design language characterised by soft, rounded lines. Interchangeable top and bottom covers, such as Funky Zircon Green or Cyber Fish, allowed for personal customisation.
VW Kleinlieferwagen “Fridolin”, 1964
In 1962, the German Federal Post Office commissioned the Volkswagen Group to develop a special vehicle for urban post and parcel delivery – one that was more economical and compact than the vans available at the time. The specifications called for a two-cubic-metre load compartment, a payload of 400 kg, an interior height of 1.50 metres, a passageway between the cab and the load compartment, and sliding side doors.
Impressions
Pictures: © Salome Roessler / lensandlight
