MOSCOW.- USSR as a way of life. Holidays and everyday lives of the people who built communism. Iconic design objects and symbols of the big epoch.

In an interview to foreign journalists on the topic of perestroika Mikhail Gorbachev said, pointing at the famous design of the face of his watch “Raketa” (“Rocket”): “we are starting life from zero again”. But is it really effective to start from the beginning, ignoring the lessons of the past? And what can we learn from Soviet design today?

Being where we are now, it is time to take a fresh look at the best examples of soviet industrial and graphic design, applied arts and fashion design. These are not just charming retro objects, but a result of systematic, functional, aesthetic and humanistic approach to designing.

The exhibition is divided into different sections. Each demonstrates various aspects of life and material culture of a Soviet citizen: the world of childhood and games, leisure and hobbies, sports and mass events, education and science, production sector and domestic life.

The exhibition features not only objects from state museums, but also unique items from private collections of designers and their families.

Video interviews with leading Soviet designers were filmed as part of the project, including: Uri Soloviev, Valeri Akopov, Vladimir Runge, Igor Zaitsev, Svetlana Mirzoyan, Vladimir Anisimov, Alexandr Yermolayev.

All the printed and video materials have been translated into English to allow non-Russian speakers an opportunity to get full and accurate information about Soviet design.