A by-word for all that's spectacular in contemporary glass art, this is Dale Chihuly's first full-scale UK exhibition. The V&A is already home to Chihuly's aqua coloured five metre high chandelier, which will be remodelled to twice its current height for this exhibition. Other equally richly coloured and extravagant works will include a series of baskets, a glass tunnel with an overhead ceiling likened to a coral sea and a Tower of Light in the museum's garden.

In collaboration with Womenswear BA design students at Central St Martins, the V&A looks at the historical significance of undergarments and its influence on contemporary fashion. Students were challenged to come up with their own innovative designs after viewing the V&A's collection of corsets, crinolines, and brassieres.

In continuation over the now slightly quieted craze over all things Japanese, the V&A is hosting a series of exhibitions, displays, demonstrations and educational events to celebrate both contemporary and traditional art. Highlights of the program include The Architecture of Fumihiko Maki: Modernity and The Construction of Scenery and Contemporary Japanese Ceramics. Program changes throughout the year, refer to the website for more information. There are programmes throughout the UK with more info here.

During the 19th century, portrait photography became hugely popular in the UK. There were two main areas of interest: celebrities/social nobility and criminals. This exhibition currently showing documents the pervasiveness of portrait photography during this era and how perniciously it came to be used. In this post-Darwin period, eugenics and genetics exploded and some people were obsessed with vice and classifying criminal behaviour using photographs of faces.

Japanese-American artist Isamu Noguchi has his first British retrospective of his work as a designer, sculptor, landscape architect and furniture designer. Reflecting a multicultural background, Noguchi incorporates both the peacefulness of traditional Japanese style and the modernism of Western culture in his work.

The latest from MOMA offers film, sculpture and installation from 18 artists who have pioneered the Brazillian avant-garde movement. With over three generations represented, visitors can see the evolution of art in this highly passionate and creative area. Featured in the exhibition are Antonio Dias' highly politicised work and Lygia Pape's 1968 performance, "Divsor", which included the participation of communities around Rio de Janeiro.

The largest international awards promoting sustainable design and architecture continues in its third year. In an attempt to show the world that innovative design can be non-detrimental to the environment while remaining commercially competitive. The shortlisted projects will be displayed to allow visitors to vote for the winner both at the museum and online.

Appliqued fabric and paper designs embellished with hand embroidery by Marlene Womack will be shown alongside her hand sewn greeting cards. The pieces, which include fashion designs, portraits and nature studies, will be available for sale. All proceeds will go to charities supported by Womack including Help the Aged and the NSPCC.

In an attempt to normalize the problems met by disabled people, their equipment is often designed with cost, function and invisibility in mind. But Adorn, Equip presents a collaboration of art and function that reflects both individual needs and creativity. Key pieces include textile artist Susie Freeman's handbag for agoraphobics and Freddie Robin's knitwear with slogans such as "Short Armed and Dangerous". Now there really is no reason to be unfashionable.

Since the break up of the Soviet Union, the societal oppression and devastating poverty have left the homeless worse than ever. This exhibition features Boris MikahailovÌs sobering images of "normal" people soon after the split and is meant to memorialize the brighter past.