The themes of this museum are design, visual communication, shaping of the environment, art, architecture, everyday culture, photography and the media, as well as cataloguing new developments. The program includes various special exhibitions supplemented by numerous events.

As a partner of the Zurich University of the Arts, the museum is also important for artistic education. The museum houses four important collections (Design, Graphics, Art Collections, Posters) and a specialist library open to the public.