The Shakers: A World in the Making is a major international exhibition exploring the legacy of the Shaker movement, on view at the Vitra Design Museum. Examining how the Shakers’ religious beliefs shaped a distinct design language rooted in community, labour and equality, the show features over 150 original objects — including furniture, architectural elements, tools, and garments — primarily from the Shaker Museum’s collection. Designed by Formafantasma, the exhibition is structured around four thematic sections that place historic material in conversation with newly commissioned works by seven contemporary artists and designers.

Through this combination, the exhibition situates Shaker design within its broader cultural, spiritual and social contexts, challenging purely aesthetic readings. Topics explored include gender roles, communal living, sustainability and innovation. Highlights include a reimagined Shaker meetinghouse, commissioned artworks and rare archival materials such as 19th-century “gift drawings.”

Following its presentation at the Vitra Design Museum, the exhibition will travel to the Milwaukee Art Museum (September 2026 to January 2027) and the Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia (January to August 2026), with further venues to follow.