As the collaborative relationship between art and fashion has evolved into near ubiquity over the past 30 years, so have questions around the cultural and commercial impacts of their entwinement. Not only did Willi Smith understand this, he was a pioneering force in this new relationship. Smith’s brand WilliWear aimed to democratize fashion by combining...
Cas Holman, designer and founder of Heroes Will Rise, and Cynthia Trope, Associate Curator of Product Design and Decorative Arts, discuss Holman’s work, education, creativity, and childhood. ABOUT CAS HOLMAN Cas Holman has spent the last fifteen years immersed in play, education, and imagination. Through her company Heroes Will Rise, she designs and manufactures tools...
THE TRANSMUTATION OF CREATIVE REUSE Designers turn existing materials or products into new works through the process of reuse transformation. More than a strategy for sustainability, reuse transformation not only diverts waste from landfills, but also challenges our preconceived notions of value and utility. In this lecture, designer and educator Hans Tan uses examples from...
In this age of information, designers can tell stories that can be shared more extensively than ever before, whether in print, within an immersive environment, or beyond. How does design serve as a medium through which to share experiences, spark wonder, and address meaningful issues? In this program, Cooper Hewitt invites 2020 National Design Award...
Design Salon: Social Impact How can designers change the paradigm of creative production to amplify emerging creatives’ ideas, support individuals to be self-sufficient, and use design radically to solve global issues? Joining 2020 National Design Award winners Abrima Erwiah of Studio One Eighty Nine (Emerging Designer Award), Aziz Hasan of Kickstarter (Design Visionary Award) and...
As climate change reshapes the planet, how can design advance solutions that promote a healthy, sustainable future for all? In this salon, the inaugural winner of the 2020 National Design Award for Climate Action, Susannah Drake (Founding Principal, dlandstudio) for the Sponge Park, is joined by 2017 National Design Award winner Susan Szenasy (former editor-in-chief,...
Cooper Hewitt is proud to announce the 2020 National Design Award winners at our first-ever virtual gala, hosted by Bobby Berk, interior design expert and Emmy-nominated host of Netflix’s Queer Eye. Congratulations to all the winners! Proceeds fund National Design Month programs and Cooper Hewitt’s work to educate, inspire, and empower people through design...
Rebellion in Design: Developing a Blueprint for the Future On the surface, fashion and architecture may seem like disconnected worlds; however, the processes inherent to both regularly overlap. Designers are frequently faced with practical challenges to translate vision into reality. Through working between the fields of architecture and fashion, these visions can often be brought...
For 10 years, El Departamento de la Comida (El Depa) has supported sustainable, socially responsible local agriculture in Puerto Rico. In this lecture, designer, farmer, and activist Tara Rodríguez Besosa will discuss the design strategies that have enabled El Depa to flourish as a queer, grassroots sustainable food project. This lecture is recommended for college students, educators, nonprofit...
