From the Blog
In celebration of National Design Month, October’s Object of The Week posts honor past National Design Award winners. This post was originally published on July 9, 2017. This wallpaper by Geoff McFetridge somewhat resembles a circuit board with its minimal rendering of visual elements, but the title, “Lines Forrest,” clearly sets the record straight that...
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,...
In celebration of National Design Month, October’s Object of The Week posts honor past National Design Award winners. A version of this post was published on November 13, 2012. Eva Zeisel, a major figure in twentieth-century industrial design, won the National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2005. Although best known for her contributions to mid-century...
Upcoming Events
Join Cooper Hewitt for a talk with Design Visionary Award winner Robert Earl Paige—the first program in a new series spotlighting the 2026 National Design Award winners in conversation with Director Maria Nicanor.
Paige is an artist, designer, and educator whose work disregards boundaries between fine art, craft, and design. A participant in the Black Arts Movement, Paige champions community engagement in art and culture, and his practice reflects a love of color, a commitment to design principles, and a belief in making art accessible for everyday people. Repurposing is central to his work, transforming found fibers, cardboard, and paper into new creations that invite others to embrace curiosity and making.
Join Cooper Hewitt for a talk with Communication Design winner Thought Matter—the second program in a new series spotlighting the 2026 National Design Award winners in conversation with Director Maria Nicanor.
Thought Matter is a New York–based studio working at the intersection of design and civic life. Founded in 2015 by Tom Jaffe and led by Jessie McGuire, the studio uncovers untold stories and merges the personal and the political—using design to reframe narratives, shift perspectives, and shape the future.
Join Cooper Hewitt for a talk with Fashion Design winner Josh Tafoya—the third program in a new series spotlighting the 2026 National Design Award winners in conversation with Director Maria Nicanor.
Josh Tafoya is a textile artist redefining the "Southwestern" aesthetic and American fashion from an Indigenous perspective. Drawing on his Genízaro, Spanish, and Chicano heritage, Tafoya blends ancestral knowledge of Rio Grande Valley weaving with contemporary fashion innovation to ensure the traditional cultural crafts of New Mexico live on in a contemporary world.
Past Events
Join us for an American Sign Language (ASL) Tour exploring the National Design Awards with a special focus on the Emerging Designer category.
