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Cooper-Hewitt Partners with Google on Design Contest for K-12 Students Tuesday, February 3, 2009 The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum today announced a partnership with Google Inc. for this year’s U.S. “Doodle 4 Google” design competition. K-12 students from across the country are challenged to think like designers, using Google’s iconic logo to convey their hopes and dreams inspired by the theme, “What I wish for the world.” On May 21, the winningstudent’s design will be the doodle of the day on the Google home page. The top four designs along with the 40 regional winners will be featured in a special exhibition at Cooper-Hewitt from May 21 through July 5. The exhibition will focus on the problem-solving nature of the design process and will include educational programs for teachers and students.
Shahzia Sikander Selects: Works from the Permanent Collection Wednesday, December 10, 2008 “Shahzia Sikander Selects: Works from the Permanent Collection,” the ninth installment in an exhibition series devoted to showing rotations of the museum’s holdings, will be on view from March 6, 2009, and continue through Sept. 7, 2009, at the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Internationally acclaimed artist Shahzia Sikander will mine and interpret the museum’s collection and produce an installation of the selected objects. A highlight of the exhibition will be a new work created by Sikander, inspired by Cooper-Hewitt’s collection.
Cooper-Hewitt Announces Departure of Director Paul Thompson and the Formation of a Search Committee Friday, November 21, 2008 Paul Warwick Thompson has resigned from Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum effective in August 2009. He has accepted the position of rector (president) of the Royal College of Art in London. Thompson joined Cooper-Hewitt in March 2001. A search committee for Thompson’s position will be formed next month.
Zōn Hearing Aid Wins the 2008 People’s Design Award Thursday, October 23, 2008 The Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum presented its third People's Design Award to the Zōn hearing aid on Thursday, Oct. 23, at its ninth annual National Design Awards gala in New York. Padma Lakshmi, host of Bravo’s “Top Chef,” announced the winning design and presented the award to Zōn’s designer Stuart Karten. National Design Week and the National Design Awards are sponsored by Target.
Cooper-Hewitt Announces New Trustees Tuesday, October 7, 2008 Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum is pleased to announce the appointment of three new trustees to its board. The Smithsonian Institution’s board of regents voted to appoint Amita Chatterjee, Marilyn F. Friedman and Judy Francis Zankel to the board of Cooper-Hewitt.
Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt Unveils Renovation/Expansion Design, Announces Major Fundraising Milestone and Commencement of Construction Tuesday, October 7, 2008 The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum today announced design plans for enlarged and enhanced facilities for exhibitions, collections display, education programming and the National Design Library, with construction slated to begin in January 2009. The expansion is part of a $64 million capital campaign, which will unfold in two phases, and, to date, $37 million has been raised, 57 percent of the campaign goal.
Cooper-Hewitt Announces Collections Growth, Exhibition Programming and Educational Initiatives Tuesday, October 7, 2008 Collections Growth Under the leadership of Cara McCarty, curatorial director, Cooper-Hewitt has undertaken an ambitious acquisitions strategy, with a particular focus on enhancing the quality, depth and coherence of the contemporary collection. Exhibition Programming The expanded scope of work in the museum’s townhouses and subsequent extension of the construction schedule allow Cooper-Hewitt to continue exhibition programming on-site through 2010. Educational Initiatives The physical renovation will be paralleled by the continuing virtual expansion of Cooper-Hewitt’s Web site, www.cooperhewitt.org. The Web site has exponentially increased the museum’s reach and will continue to serve as a resource for educators, students, design professionals and the general public.
Fashioning Felt Monday, October 6, 2008 The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum will present the exhibition “Fashioning Felt,” a comprehensive overview of the varied uses of felt in contemporary design, in the first-floor galleries from March 6 through Sept. 7, 2009. The exhibition will feature more than 70 felt works from a range of fields, including fashion, architecture, product design and home furnishings.
Solos: Tulou/Affordable Housing for China Tuesday, September 2, 2008 In October, the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum will address the growing global concern and need for affordable housing through a special installment of the “Solos” series. The exhibition will present a housing prototype currently under construction in China, the world’s most populous country. “Solos: Tulou/Affordable Housing for China,” on view from Oct. 3 through April 5, 2009, is organized by Matilda McQuaid, deputy curatorial director and head of the Textiles department.
Gallery Wall Stories: Children's Wallpaper and Books Tuesday, September 2, 2008 In October, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum will present “Wall Stories: Children’s Wallpaper and Books,” an exhibition that examines the relationship between wallpapers and children’s books through works from the permanent collection and the National Design Library. On view in the second floor galleries from Oct. 3 through April 5, 2009, the exhibition will feature more than 30 wallcoverings and nearly 30 related children’s books. “Wall Stories” is organized by Gregory Herringshaw, assistant curator in charge of wallcoverings, and Stephen Van Dyk, director of the National Design Library.