Spotlight On: Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

Check It Out!

The future of design is Now! Head to the Cooper-Hewitt to celebrate designs dealing with current issues like the environment and humankind.

See some of the most creative pieces from the world of architecture, products you could use in your home, fashion and more even more at the National Design Triennial: Why Design Now? exhibit, opening on May 14th!

Visit the only museum in the nation that is solely devoted to historical and contemporary design!

Don't Miss...

Doodle 4 Google: If I Could Do Anything, I Would...
May 27 - August 15, 2010
Check out the winning designs from Google's annual design contest! Tens of thousands of entries were submitted by K-12 students from across the United States. Vote for your favorite!
All ages, FREE

How HOT is Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum?

The Cooper-Hewitt, founded in 1897 by the Hewitt sisters, houses over 200,000 design objects in their permanent collection--the oldest object dates back to the Han Dynasty (200 B.C.). Among those 200,000 objects is the largest collection of wallpaper in the world! Now that's a lot of design. 

Ongoing Programming

Design Kids Workshops
Every second and fourth Saturdays, morning and afternoon sessions.
Check their website for more info on program descriptions and dates for family fun!
All ages, FREE

Get More Design

Cooper-Hewitt takes pride in showcasing the impact of design on all of our lives through both their collections and programming. But that's not all! To supplement learning about the impact and importance of design through the many centuries of human existence, they have many resources to share.

Are you an educator? Cooper-Hewitt offers fun and interesting lesson plans to help you integrate design into your classroom curriculum. Choose your grade level to explore activities and lessons appropriate for the kids you teach.

 

Image Credits, Left to Right from top

 

MIT CityCar, ½-scale prototype. William J. Mitchell, Smart Cities Principle Investigator, William Lark, Jr., Principle Designer with project assistants (please see exhibit and website for full listing); Smart Cities group of MIT Media Laboratory. United States, 2009–10. Courtesy of designers.

Learning Landscape. Emily Pilloton (American, b. 1981), Heleen De Goey (Dutch, b. 1988), Dan Grossman (American, b. 1984), Kristina Drury (Canadian, b. 1982), Neha Thatte (American, b. 1985), Matthew Miller (American, b. 1978), and Ilona de Jongh (Dutch, b. 1983), Project H Design. Client: Kutamba School for AIDS Orphans. Designed United States, built Uganda, 2008–9. Reclaimed tires, sand, lumber, chalk. Photo: Project H Design

Heath Ceramics Tableware. Catherine Bailey (American, b. 1967) and Robin Petravic (American, b. 1968) with Christina Zamora (American, b. 1975), Heath Ceramics. United States, 2005–9. Glazed ceramic stoneware. Photo: Jeffery Cross

Medellín, Colombia, Jardin Botanico-Orquideorama (Botanical Garden). Alejandro Bernal (Colombian, b. 1973), Felipe Mesa (Colombian, b. 1975), Camilo Restrepo (Colombian, b. 1974), and J. Paul Restrepo (Colombian, b. 1944), PLAN B Architects. Colombia, 2004–7. Photo: Sergio Gómez

Car-parts Incubator, prototype. Timothy Prestero (American, b. 1970), Design that Matters, Inc. Client: Center for Integration of Medicine and Innovative Technology, Global Health Initiative. United States and Nepal, 2008–present. Rendering: Design that Matters

AlphaBetter Student Desk. Tim Skiba (American, b. 1961), Sunway, Inc.; concept: Abby Brown (American). Manufactured by Safco Products Company. United States, 2007. Powder-coated steel, MDF, 3D rigid thermoplastic laminate, phenolic sheet. Photo: Safco Products Company

Solvatten Solar Safe-Water System. Petra Wadström (Swedish, b. 1952), Solvatten AB. Manufactured by Mälarplast AB. Sweden, 2008. ABS plastic, acrylic. Photo: David Wadström