“One person’s craziness is another person’s reality” once said director Tim Burton. Celebrated for his weird and wonderful imagination, Burton exemplifies the beauty of individuality, reminding us that we all come in different shapes, sizes, and states of mind. This October, we have the chance to explore the psyche of this artistic powerhouse in a major exhibition opening in London: The World of Tim Burton.

To celebrate his exceptional career, The World of Tim Burton will open at the Design Museum, inviting visitors to venture through five remarkable decades of creativity. This exhibition will showcase a fascinating array of displays, from Burton’s earliest unrealised projects to highlights from his extensive filmography including Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and his latest work, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Exhibition Ticket giveaway

Prepare for a rendezvous with Burton’s personal archives, many showcased in the UK for the first time, alongside 600 items spanning fifty years of creativity. Opening on 25 October 2024 at the prestigious Design Museum, this exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the world of one of cinema’s most visionary minds.

We’re excited to offer a giveaway of 10 tickets (five pairs) exclusively for our newsletter subscribers and members to visit at any time of your choosing until April 2025. Make sure you’re signed up to be notified when these tickets are released! Join our newsletter >

Be the first to get up close and personal with Burton’s creativity

Film and Furniture Backstage members are invited to the exclusive press preview on 23 October (limited numbers on a first-come first-served basis), allowing access before the grand public opening. If you’re not yet a Backstage member, now’s the chance to join and secure your invitation. Sign up to Backstage membership >

What to expect at The World of Tim Burton exhibition

Over 600 incredible items will illustrate the evolution of Burton’s unique design aesthetic. Featuring loans from his extensive personal archives and from major film studios, together with the private collections of Burton’s collaborators, many on public display for the first time.

“Visions are worth fighting for. Why spend your life making someone else’s dreams?”
Tim Burton

This exhibition, opening just in time for Halloween, will spotlight more than 18 of Burton’s films, celebrating the creative processes behind his significant contributions to cinema including Beetlejuice (1988), Batman (1989), Edward Scissorhands (1990), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Mars Attacks! (1996), and Alice in Wonderland (2010). Following a decade-long global tour, this will be the last time the exhibition will be staged, and has been specially expanded and reimagined for the UK’s Design Museum.

You’ll be able to delve into the director’s work through a design lens and explore his collaborative relationships with renowned designers including production designer Rick Heinrichs, architect and designer Anton Furst, costume designer Colleen Atwood, and the award-winning puppet makers and stop-motion animators Mackinnon and Saunders. 

The exhibition is structured into thematic sections, beginning with Suburban Beginnings, charting Burton’s early artistic pursuits and his time working as an apprentice animator at Disney and moving into Crafting Imagination, highlighting his impact on stop-motion animation. Building Worlds showcases key films and the television series Wednesday, while Drawing Narratives exhibits Burton’s prolific output as an artist and visual storyteller. Finally, Beyond Film explores his projects outside cinema, including books and music videos, and designers who have been inspired by the Burtonesque, such as photographer Tim Walker.

The immersive experience will transport visitors through landscapes reminiscent of his films — from the suburbs to angular corridors and film soundstages – all accompanied by a custom soundscape crafted by sound designer Tomi Rose.

Burton himself reflects, “It’s a strange thing, to put 50 years of art and your life on view for everyone to see, especially when that was never the original purpose. In the past, I have resisted having the exhibition in London, however, collaborating with the Design Museum for this final stop was the right choice. They understand the art… and the way design interacts with the works”

Exhibition Highlights

Highlights of The World of Tim Burton include hundreds of Burton’s sketches, illustrating his creative process and the evolution of beloved characters from Mars Attacks!, Alice in Wonderland and Corpse Bride. 

Notable costumes and props include Colleen Atwood’s instantly-recognisable costume for Edward Scissorhands as worn by actor Johnny Depp, along with Bo Welch’s set design models for the movie and Stan Winston’s infamous scissor hands.

Michelle Pfeiffer’s rubber and latex Catwoman suit from Batman Returns, and the black and white striped dress from Sleepy Hollow, worn by Christina Ricci will also be displayed. 

There will also be the first ever public outing of the Rave’N dance dress worn by Jenna Ortega in Wednesday. The school uniform for the series, designed by Atwood, will also be shown, paired alongside Burton’s original character concept drawings. 

The grand finale includes a specially created cinema experience featuring a new film highlighting Burton’s key collaborators, set in an art-deco space reminiscent of the theatres from his childhood in Hollywood.

Accompanying the exhibition, the Design Museum are publishing a new book, Tim Burton: Designing Worlds, exploring the relationship between Burton’s cinematic creations and the world of design, featuring exclusive interviews and essays.

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What? The World of Tim Burton
When? 25 October 2024 – 21 April 2025
Where? the Design Museum, London.