These interactive installations are way too fun! Japan NHK’s hit show comes to Hong Kong, reigniting curiosity about everyday life

Key highlights

• The exhibition runs from June 27, 2026, to January 10, 2027, in the M+ Ground Floor Main Hall Gallery.
• The exhibition features 21 interactive installations and immersive works that incorporate Hong Kong’s local food and visual culture.
• Standard adult tickets are HK$ 190, while family packages start at HK$ 250.
• The M+ Shop is also offering exclusive exhibition items, including T-shirts, caps, and backpacks.

Every day, you catch the bus, watch the traffic lights as you cross the street, or pick up chopsticks at mealtime. These everyday actions feel as natural as breathing, but have you ever stopped to take a closer look at their design? M+ in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District is presenting a new special exhibition, “Design Ah! Experience the Wonders of Everyday Design,” bringing the playful creativity of Japanese broadcaster NHK’s popular educational program “Design Ah! neo” to Hong Kong. With 21 hands-on interactive installations, the exhibition invites visitors to see the ordinary objects around them from a fresh perspective.

• Related reading: Step into the world of dreamcore! The “dreamedcore” exhibition in Wong Chuk Hang brings together 22 Asian artists

Everyday design objects we overlook

Everyday life is full of clever design details that we often overlook because we’re so used to them. Centered on 10 “verbs” of everyday life, this exhibition turns household items such as toothbrushes and cups into the main characters. Each seemingly ordinary exhibit shows how design can improve our quality of life, shape our daily habits, and foster connections between people. Some works also reflect Hong Kong’s visual landscape and food culture, offering flashes of inspiration through play.

Hands-on interactive installations

The exhibition presents 21 works centered on 10 verb-based themes closely tied to everyday actions, alongside static object displays. Visitors can try a range of hands-on games and interactive installations, as well as immersive audiovisual rooms. One highlight is “DO IT!”: follow the large screen as you chop, pull, and flick, as though you were picking up different tools and moving through various everyday settings. It encourages visitors to shift their perspective and use their eyes, hands, feet, and other parts of their bodies to explore the world around them.

Merchandise and adorable blind boxes you’ll want to take home

One of the best parts of visiting an exhibition is bringing practical design home with you. M+ has incorporated the “Ah!” motif into items such as T-shirts and baseball caps, with a minimalist Japanese aesthetic and a sense of humor. There’s also the “Very Hong Kong” series, which turns five classic characters from Hong Kong culture into soothing plush toys and keychain blind boxes. Full of local character, they’re incredibly cute.

Join POPBEE Circle and subscribe to the POPBEE newsletter to get instant access to the latest updates, plus be the first to hear about special perks and discounts. Besides this article, here are a few more recent stories you’ll want to check out: