How to Enter

A grid of bright blue, red, yellow, and pink tiles with black silhouette illustrations of design-related objects and symbols that include tools, furniture, clothing, architecture, and graphic design. In the center, bold text reads: “NATIONAL HIGHS SCHOOL DESIGN COMPETITION” and “What would you design for your community’s future?”

1. EXPLORE YOUR COMMUNITY

Learn more about the 2026 Design Challenge and use these resources to help ignite your creative thinking. You can enter as an individual or as a team of up to three people. Only one team member may submit an entry on behalf of the team.

First, identify a design in your community that should be preserved. Think about design in your community that has made an impact over the past 250 years. Choose a design that celebrates your community, tells its story, or invites reflection on its history. Remember, design is all around us and touches our lives in many ways. The design you choose could be an object, a building, a textile, a logo, a system, an experience, and more.

Take a photograph of the existing design or draw it. This image must your own original work. Upload this image as a .jpg (must be at least 8.5 x 11″ at 300 dpi).

Tell us about the example of design from your community you are highlighting. What is it and who designed it (if known)? Describe the significance of this design for your community. What story does it tell about the community’s history and identity? (50 words or less) The online entry form will include a box where you can copy and paste your responses.

If you are a student with a disability, you may submit a written description or an audio description as an .mp3 as needed (200 words or less). Contact DesignCompetition@si.edu by January 16, 2026 to discuss other possible modifications to enable participation.

2. CREATE your design

What would you design for your community’s future?

Then, consider: How can you use design to uphold your community’s unique character or spirit—and our shared national ideals? Think about how you might support your community now and in the future. Remember, design is all around us and can make an impact for a community in many ways. The design you create could be an object, a building, a textile, a logo, a system, an experience, and more.

Create an original sketch that communicates your idea and addresses the challenge question.

Tips for Creating Your Sketch:

You will need one sketch of your design idea that you will upload as a .jpg (must be at least 8.5 x 11″ at 300 dpi).
We recommend using an 8 1/2 x 11″ sheet of paper.
Your sketch can be drawn in any medium, by hand or on a computer.
The quality of the sketch will not be judged, but it should help illustrate the design concept.

Tell us about your design and the community members or group you are designing for. What specifically are you addressing, and who is most affected by it? Describe how your design responds to this, outlining its key concepts, how it works, and how users will experience it. If your design is inspired by an already existing design from your community, explain which aspects influenced you and how you are adapting or improving it. Could this design have a broader impact, helping communities across the United States? (75 words or less) The online entry form will include a box where you can copy and paste your responses.

3. Submit your design

The deadline for the 2026 National High School Design Competition has passed. To be notified of the 2027 competition, email us at DesignCompetition@si.edu.

Entry Requirements:

Your name and contact information, and the names and contact information for all team members, if applicable. Note: Only one team member should create an account and submit your entry on behalf of the team.
An upload of a photograph or drawing (this must be your original work) as a .jpg of the existing design you are identifying from your community, and a written description, as described in step 1. (You will also provide an approximately 15-word alt text description of the image you upload.)
An upload of your design sketch as a .jpg (must be at least 8.5 x 11″ at 300 dpi), or alternate file type and written responses about your design, as described in step 2. (You will also provide an approximately 15-word alt text description of the image you upload.)
An upload of your signed Parent Guardian Consent Form as a .pdf or .jpg file (must be 300 dpi). The form must be completed and uploaded, and don’t forget the signature! If you are submitting a team entry, each team member must submit a signed parent/legal guardian consent form.

Important Notes:

Your entry cannot have any marks, logos, or writing on it that identifies authorship so that Cooper Hewitt can review all entries anonymously.
You may not share your design on social media or in any public manner until after the regional winners are announced (anticipated to be in April 2026).
For any questions, please visit FAQs.