The famous design museum in downtown Lisbon, MUDE, isn’t interested in just showing off famous chairs or high-fashion labels. Their latest exhibition on the 3rd floor, “What are things for?”, asks a much deeper question: why do we actually make, buy, and discard the objects around us? It’s a re-reading of design history that places Portuguese creation within a global conversation.

The chronological layout takes you back to the early 1900s, establishing a dialogue between objects and the documents that brought them to life. Rather than focusing on icons, it explores the "how" and "why" behind the design process and consumption.

The exhibition design itself is a statement, as it challenges our consumer society by showcasing how the beautiful, old-fashioned, handmade chairs and tables stand in contrast to the modern, user-hostile pieces made of plastic and steel, which compete with each other in the same room.