If you’re a fan of any of Tim Burton’s movies, then The World of Tim Burton exhibition at the Design Museum in London is an absolute must-see. As an admirer of his work, I was so excited to see into his world and witness firsthand how his twistedly beautiful ideas come to life. It did not disappoint!
The moment you walk in, you’re greeted by a timeline of Tim Burton’s career. Seeing how his artistry evolved over the years was fascinating. What was really nice to see was his early childhood/teenage drawings. You could already see the beginnings of his signature style—the eerie yet whimsical characters, the gothic influences, and, of course, the empathy for monsters. It was crazy to look at these drawings and know that they were the influence for some of my favourite movies!
One of the biggest highlights for me was seeing how some of his most famous creations—like The Corpse Bride and The Nightmare Before Christmas—started as simple sketches. Standing in front of the original concept art and comparing it to what eventually made it to the big screen was absolutely mind-blowing. You can see the essence of Jack Skellington and Sally in his early sketches, but the transformation from pencil to puppetry was incredible. It really made me appreciate just how much detail and craftsmanship goes into stop-motion animation.
Another standout moment was seeing the costumes from his movies. Seeing Edward Scissorhands’ outfit and scissor gloves and the uniform and Rave’N ball gown from Wednesday on Netflix felt like stepping onto a Tim Burton movie set. The level of detail in each piece was insane, and it was so cool to read about their design and creation. To get the right level of purple in the Wednesday school uniform every version and copy of the uniform was hand woven!
Something that really struck me during the exhibition was how much Tim Burton’s love for horror and monsters shaped his career. From childhood, he was fascinated by monsters and the strange, and you can see that influence in everything he’s ever created. His ability to take something dark and creepy and make it feel heartwarming and beautiful is what makes his work so special. It was amazing to see the full creative journey—from his first sketches to the finished films.
While the entrance section with the timeline and early works was quite busy, things became more relaxed as I moved through the exhibition. I had plenty of space to take everything in, read the displays, and really absorb the artistry on show. The exhibition itself was well laid out and easy to navigate, making it a fantastic experience for any Tim Burton fan. There’s also a gift shop at the end of the exhibition, it’s a touch on the pricy side but that’s to be expected. I did treat myself to a few items including the exhibition book which is really something and so inspiring to flick through.
If you’re even remotely interested in Tim Burton’s work, this exhibition is 100% worth a visit. It’s a rare glimpse into the creative process of one of the most visionary directors of our time, and whether you love his work for its creepy aesthetics or heartwarming oddities, you’ll walk away with a new appreciation for his genius.
One person's craziness is another person's reality
