Design Field Trips

A photograph of an adult and group of children sitting in a circle on the ground in the corner of a room doing an activity. Each child has a clipboard and pencil and are listening to the adult. The light-skinned adult has short brown hair, is holding a clipboard with a drawing of a house and is pointing. The wall behind them is bright blue.

Design field trips

Cooper Hewitt welcomes K-12 classes to experience design at the museum. Our field trips explore how design shapes and is shaped by our everyday lives. Students are guided by a Cooper Hewitt educator through a tour of the museum’s exhibitions and collections, followed by a hands-on activity that immerses students in the design making process. Advanced registration is required for school groups visiting for educator-guided field trips. Availability is limited.

For additional information, please visit our FAQs page or email us at tours@cooperhewitt.zendesk.com

All Design Field Trips for the 2023–2024 school year are fully booked. If you would like to be contacted in the event of cancellations, please email tours@cooperhewitt.zendesk.com to be added to the waitlist. Our team will reach out if dates become available.

A photograph of a group of children walking in a single file line behind an adult in a gallery space. The adult is standing at the front of the line and is facing the children. The adult and children are all carrying a clipboard and pencil. On the wall behind them there are a series of graphic posters that show the winner of the national high school design competition.

A photograph of a young dark-skinned child with braids, ties a piece of string onto a vertical wire attached to the wall. The wall has multiple pieces of red, blue, yellow, purple, and white coloured string tied to it. There is a larger dark-skinned hand next to the child’s, helping them tie the string.

A photograph of a light-skinned child with short straight black hair and purple rimmed glasses smiles enthusiastically holding up a drawing. In the drawing there is a purple and orange builds and a big yellow school bus. In the background there are more young children drawing.

A photograph of two children sitting on the floor. The child on the right is holding up a clipboard and pencil and is looking enthusiastically at the other child. On the wall behind them is a projection of multiple, scattered orange and purple squiggly lines.

A photograph of a group of children and an adult are gathered around doing a craft activity. There are materials scattered around the table such as pipe cleaners, paper coffee filters, and scissors. The dark-skinned adult is drawing and the kids in the middle designed something made of cardboard, pipe cleaners, and clear colored plastic.

A photograph of a group of teenagers doing a craft activity. A medium skin toned teenager with short black hair and wears a red sweatshirt and glasses is cutting a paper coffee filter. Craft materials are scattered around the table.

A photograph of a group of teenagers in a gallery space, gathered around a small blue object filled with fishnet-like holes. They smile playfully while reaching out to touch it. In front of the group is a large object on a stand that is around the shape and size of a car tire. It has the same blue colour and holes as the smaller object.

A photograph of a medium-dark skinned teenager wearing a black and orange baseball cap and sweatshirt who constructs something that looks like a desk lamp made out of paper cups, purple and yellow pipe cleaners, and pink paper.

FIELD TRIP TRACKS BY GRADE

Each Design Field Trip track is tailored by grade level to meet the needs of students in every stage of their learning journey. Each track has been developed to meet national and New York State Standards and is aligned with the Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education framework. To review each track in more detail, please read the overviews below:

Please note: The grade level for each track is a suggestion. We are happy to offer any of the three tracks to accommodate the specific needs of your class.

Track 1: Design Explorers (K-3rd)

In this in-person field trip, students will practice their observation skills to discover that design is all around them! By looking closely at designs across exhibitions and doing a hands-on design activity, students will discover design elements such as size, color, and shape, and consider how these elements can help us design symbols that communicate and connect us.

Track 2: Communicating Via Design (4th-8th)

How can design help solve problems and improve representation and access? In this in-person field trip, students will discover the power of symbols to communicate user needs and build community. Students will investigate examples of symbols from the Olympics and the 1972 Symbol Sourcebook in the exhibition Give Me a Sign and use design elements including shape, color, and pattern to create their own symbols that address a challenge in their school community.

Track 3: Designing Symbols for Change (9th-12th)

How can communication design reflect a more inclusive world and inspire activism? In this in-person field trip, students will discover the power of symbols to meet the needs of users, communicate identity, and increase representation. Students will investigate examples of symbols in our world—from the accessible icon to emojis and the raised fist—and, using elements such as shape, color, and pattern, design their own symbols for change.

Track 4: from sketch to stage (7th-12th)

Students will investigate the design tools and processes of renowned contemporary artist and designer Es Devlin through the current exhibition An Atlas of Es Devlin. Starting with the simplicity of a blank piece of paper, Devlin brings to life imaginary worlds that can captivate an audience. In this tour and workshop, participants will be challenged to answer the question, “How might we create spaces and experiences that tell compelling stories?”

Check out our online resources

Explore current exhibitions, design activities you can use in the classroom, and more.

Smithsonian Learning Lab →
Design at Home Videos →
An Atlas of Es Devlin: A Creative Curriculum →
Current Exhibitions →