The Conran Foundation is an educational charity, aiming to promote a better understanding of the commercial and cultural benefits of good design. It was established in 1980 with a donation from Sir Terence Conran who continues to provide funding.

The Foundation's first initiative was in 1981 with the seminal Boilerhouse Project. This was a newly built gallery that started life in a previously unused and dilapidated space in the basement area of The Victoria and Albert Museum. The gallery was intended as a resource for students, designers and the public to stimulate design awareness and discussion. Under the directorship of Stephen Bayley it was responsible for many lively, original and acclaimed exhibitions including Sony Design, Kenneth Grange, Issey Miyake, and Dieter Rams retrospectives, Coca-Cola—a global brand, and case study of the development of the Ford Sierra.

In 1987 the Boilerhouse Project metamorphosed to become the Design Museum relocating to a purpose-built, modernist building in Butlers Wharf close to Tower Bridge.

Also funded principally by The Conran Foundation, the founding objective of the Design Museum was to stimulate interest in the design of the industrially produced object. Opening to the public in 1990, the first exhibitions were wide ranging and included Porsche, Alpha Romeo, the Bauhaus—Charles & Ray Eames and Brunel. It was the first museum in the world dedicated to the promotion and examination of design.