Several objects from the museum's collection are inscribed in Latvia's Canon of Art and Design and have received international recognition. The collection of the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design currently holds more than 11 928 items, while the exhibition halls display around 500 of these. The permanent exhibition of the MDAD presents works of the leading Latvian designers and artists telling about the development of professional decorative art and design over the period from the late 19th century until today.