Directorate

The Design Museum is led by the Chief Executive and Director, Tim Marlow OBE.

The Directors directly manage the departmental directors, each responsible for a different area of the museum’s work.

Tim Marlow, Director and Chief Executive Officer

Formerly Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Arts and Director of Exhibitions at White Cube, Tim has been involved in the art world for the past thirty years as a curator, writer and broadcaster. Tim was awarded an OBE in 2019.

Josephine Chanter, Deputy Director

Josephine has over two decades of experience connecting audiences with transformative ideas. Since launching the new Design Museum, she has co-founded Future Observatory and, as Deputy Director, drives innovation, accessibility and strategic change.

Liyun Ye, Chief Financial Officer

Liyun joined the Design Museum as Chief Financial Officer in 2024. Prior to this she was Finance Director at one of Europe’s leading film schools. Liyun has worked with several contemporary art charities in London, as well as global corporations across Europe and the US.

Johanna Agerman Ross, Conran Foundation Chief Curator

Johanna oversees the museum’s programme and is also design journal Disegno’s director. She was previously curator of twentieth century and contemporary furniture and product design at the V&A.

Justin McGuirk, Director of Future Observatory

Justin is a writer and curator based in London. He is the director of Future Observatory, the national design research programme for the green transition, established by the Design Museum in partnership with the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Lycia Lobo, Chief Operating Officer

Lycia oversees the museum's visitor operations, commercial business, technology services and facilities functions. As a non-executive director and trustee, she advises several boards on income growth strategies. Lycia has also held senior leadership positions in high street retail and the arts/heritage sector, including roles at English Heritage and the V&A.

You can download the museum's annual report for 2023–2024 through the link below.