2026 Design Challenge

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?”

2026 DESIGN CHALLENGE

What would you design for your community’s future?

The United States will celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026. In recognition of this historic event, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum invites high school students from across the country to explore our nation’s past and celebrate its innovative spirit by responding to this year’s National High School Design Competition challenge:

What would you design for your community’s future?

Begin by looking back. Reflect on our nation’s history through the lens of design in your corner of the United States. Identify an example of a design that made an impact—a design that represents your community, its ideals, and its unique chapter of the story of the country. Then, look forward: What would you design to support your community for the next 250 years? Propose your own design that reflects our nation’s shared ideals and contributes to your community’s future.

Select entries from across the nation will be featured on an interactive map on Cooper Hewitt’s website, highlighting creative design proposals and showcasing the story of our nation from the perspective of forwarding-thinking teens.

Create a sketch that communicates your idea and describe how your design addresses the challenge question. Review how to enter and use these resources to start thinking like a designer!

WHO CAN ENTER

The design competition is open to all high school students in grades 9 through 12, or who are homeschooled students working toward a high school degree anywhere in the United States. You can enter as an individual or as a team of up to three people. Review the competition Rules and Conditions for complete information on eligibility.

The Selection Process

The 2026 National High School Design Competition is juried by a panel of staff from across Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. All entries are reviewed anonymously, except for the state of each entry, in order to ensure fairness. The jury will have access to the state associated with each entry so that featured entries showcase student innovation and creativity from across the United States in the interactive map. The jury will also select five regional winners that will be honored on the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum website.

VIRTUAL REGIONAL WINNERS DAY (May 16, 2026)

On May 16, 2026, the five regional winners will have the opportunity to meet professional designers and like-minded teens from around the country, gain insight into their design ideas while exploring design careers, and learn more about how design is used every day.

ENTRY DEADLINE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2026, 11:59 P.M. (EASTERN TIME)

The entry period will be open from January 6 to February 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time). Please check your local time zone. Late entries will not be accepted.

Selection Criteria

Students’ designs will be evaluated for overall design excellence and selected to be featured on Cooper Hewitt’s interactive map according to the following criteria:

Innovation: How creative and original is the design?
Impact: Large or small, what is the impact of the design?
Relevance: How does the design make your community feel more like home for everyone?
Communication: How clear is the design idea from the sketch and question responses?

HONORS

Five regional winners will be selected from the entries and will be required to participate in additional activities, as further described in the competition’s rules and conditions. The regional winners will attend a Virtual Regional Winners Day on Saturday, May 16, 2026.