diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py
index e0875709b..c1a64d131 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/__init__.py
@@ -265,7 +265,11 @@ def build(designspace_filename, master_finder=lambda s:s, axisMap=None):
 	(axis-tag, axis-name).
 	"""
 
-	axes, masters, instances = designspace.load(designspace_filename)
+	ds = designspace.load(designspace_filename)
+	axes = ds['axes']
+	masters = ds['masters']
+	instances = ds['instances']
+
 	base_idx = None
 	for i,m in enumerate(masters):
 		if 'info' in m and m['info']['copy']:
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/designspace.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/designspace.py
index a7197f28e..d96d9f6b4 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/designspace.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/designspace.py
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ def _loadAxis(et):
 	return item
 
 def _load(et):
+	designspace = {}
 	ds = et.getroot()
 
 	axes = []
@@ -68,20 +69,23 @@ def _load(et):
 	if ds_axes:
 		for et in ds_axes:
 			axes.append(_loadAxis(et))
+	designspace['axes'] = axes
 
 	masters = []
 	for et in ds.find('sources'):
 		masters.append(_loadItem(et))
+	designspace['masters'] = masters
 
 	instances = []
 	for et in ds.find('instances'):
 		instances.append(_loadItem(et))
+	designspace['instances'] = instances
 
-	return axes, masters, instances
+	return designspace
 
 def load(filename):
 	"""Load designspace from a file name or object.
-	   Returns three items:
+	   Returns a dictionary containing three items:
 	   - list of axes
 	   - list of masters (aka sources)
 	   - list of instances"""
diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/interpolate_layout.py b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/interpolate_layout.py
index cfe66d668..fc172509c 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/varLib/interpolate_layout.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/varLib/interpolate_layout.py
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@ import os.path
 
 def interpolate_layout(designspace_filename, loc, finder):
 
-	axes, masters, instances = designspace.load(designspace_filename)
+	ds = designspace.load(designspace_filename)
+	axes = ds['axes']
+	masters = ds['masters']
+	instances = ds['instances']
+
 	base_idx = None
 	for i,m in enumerate(masters):
 		if 'info' in m and m['info']['copy']:
diff --git a/NEWS.rst b/NEWS.rst
index ca0c8f124..602d6927a 100644
--- a/NEWS.rst
+++ b/NEWS.rst
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+- [varLib] designspace.load() now returns a dictionary, instead of a tuple,
+  and supports <axes> element (#864)
+
 3.7.2 (released 2017-02-17)
 ---------------------------
 
diff --git a/Tests/varLib/designspace_test.py b/Tests/varLib/designspace_test.py
index da42c3188..0978f54f9 100644
--- a/Tests/varLib/designspace_test.py
+++ b/Tests/varLib/designspace_test.py
@@ -10,45 +10,46 @@ class DesignspaceTest(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(
             designspace.load(_getpath("VarLibTest.designspace")),
 
-                # axes
-                ([{'map': [{'input': 0.0, 'output': 10.0},
-                           {'input': 401.0, 'output': 66.0},
-                           {'input': 1000.0, 'output': 990.0}],
-                   'name': 'weight',
-                   'default': 0.0,
-                   'tag': 'wght',
-                   'maximum': 1000.0,
-                   'minimum': 0.0},
-                  {'default': 250.0,
-                   'minimum': 0.0,
-                   'tag': 'wdth',
-                   'maximum': 1000.0,
-                   'name': 'width'},
-                  {'name': 'contrast',
-                   'default': 0.0,
-                   'tag': 'cntr',
-                   'maximum': 100.0,
-                   'minimum': 0.0,
-                   'labelname': {'de': 'Kontrast', 'en': 'Contrast'}}],
+                {'instances':
+                  [{'info': {},
+                    'familyname': 'VarLibTest',
+                    'filename': 'instance/VarLibTest-Medium.ufo',
+                    'kerning': {},
+                    'location': {'weight': 0.5},
+                    'stylename': 'Medium'}],
 
-                 # masters (aka sources)
-                 [{'info': {'copy': True},
-                   'name': 'master_1',
-                   'lib': {'copy': True},
-                   'filename': 'VarLibTest-Light.ufo',
-                   'location': {'weight': 0.0},
-                   'groups': {'copy': True}},
-                  {'location': {'weight': 1.0},
-                   'name': 'master_2',
-                   'filename': 'VarLibTest-Bold.ufo'}],
+                 'masters':
+                  [{'info': {'copy': True},
+                    'name': 'master_1',
+                    'lib': {'copy': True},
+                    'filename': 'VarLibTest-Light.ufo',
+                    'location': {'weight': 0.0},
+                    'groups': {'copy': True}},
+                   {'location': {'weight': 1.0},
+                    'name': 'master_2',
+                    'filename': 'VarLibTest-Bold.ufo'}],
 
-                 # instances
-                 [{'info': {},
-                   'familyname': 'VarLibTest',
-                   'filename': 'instance/VarLibTest-Medium.ufo',
-                   'kerning': {},
-                   'location': {'weight': 0.5},
-                   'stylename': 'Medium'}])
+                 'axes':
+                  [{'map': [{'input': 0.0, 'output': 10.0},
+                            {'input': 401.0, 'output': 66.0},
+                            {'input': 1000.0, 'output': 990.0}],
+                    'name': 'weight',
+                    'default': 0.0,
+                    'tag': 'wght',
+                    'maximum': 1000.0,
+                    'minimum': 0.0},
+                   {'default': 250.0,
+                    'minimum': 0.0,
+                    'tag': 'wdth',
+                    'maximum': 1000.0,
+                    'name': 'width'},
+                   {'name': 'contrast',
+                    'default': 0.0,
+                    'tag': 'cntr',
+                    'maximum': 100.0,
+                    'minimum': 0.0,
+                    'labelname': {'de': 'Kontrast', 'en': 'Contrast'}}]
+                }
         )