Entrepreneur James Dyson has resigned as chair of the Design Museum in London.

According to a number of reports in the media, Dyson was deeply disillusioned with the “balance shift” from manufactured objects to iconography at the museum and resigned as a result of it. He is stepping down to pursue an independent educational project.

Dyson had held the position since January 1999 after being appointed as a trustee of the museum in 1997.

Alice Rawsthorn, director, said: “James Dyson has made a major contribution to the museum as chair over the past five years and we wish him success in his new project.”

The museum, which was founded in 1989 and attracted around 170,000 visitors last year, is expected to begin the process of appointing a new chair immediately.