Deconstructing Power: W. E. B. Du Bois at the 1900 World’s Fair places decorative arts from Cooper Hewitt’s permanent collection in dialogue with 20 of W. E. B. Du Bois’ innovative data visualizations. On loan from the Library of Congress, these groundbreaking visualizations document the progress of Black Americans and life inside the veil of systemic oppression.    Join Cooper Hewitt and Smithsonian Libraries and Archives for a conversation highlighting the legacy of Du Bois’ work as a sociologist and historian, which has inspired researchers and designers across disciplines. 

Hector Guimard: How Paris Got Its Curves invites a new understanding of France’s most famous art nouveau architect, Hector Guimard (1867–1942). Guimard is perhaps best known for his designs for the Paris Métro stations and private residences like Castel Béranger—both important commissions broadcasting the art nouveau style he was developing at the turn of the century. In this guided tour, visitors will be invited to explore the full range of Guimard’s design work. Tour led by the exhibition’s curator Yao-Fen You, senior curator and head of product design and decorative arts at Cooper Hewitt. 

Hector Guimard: How Paris Got Its Curves invites a new understanding of France’s most famous art nouveau architect, Hector Guimard (1867–1942). Guimard is perhaps best known for his designs for the Paris Métro stations and private residences like Castel Béranger—both important commissions broadcasting the art nouveau style he was developing at the turn of the century. In this guided tour, visitors will be invited to explore the full range of Guimard’s design work. Tour led by the exhibition’s curator Yao-Fen You, senior curator and head of product design and decorative arts at Cooper Hewitt. 

Classical reliefs, sarcophagi, frescoes, coins, and gems were frequently copied and readapted by Renaissance artists from the 15th century onwards. Yet it was only in the age of the Enlightenment that a selection of them was canonized, illustrated, and diffused in Europe through antiquarian publications. Scholars and travelers on the Grand Tour viewed antiquity through the lens of these books. Their printed illustrations offered a range of images and symbolic references for artists, decorators, and architects whenever they wanted to quote the Antique in their creations. 

In this guided exhibition tour you will encounter fanciful drawings and prints by Michel Angelo Pergolesi, an Italian-born artist whose professional specialty, in his words, was “the ornaments of the ancients.” Tour led by Julia Siemon, Assistant Curator of Paintings, J. Paul Getty Museum.

What would be possible if we were to design for peace? In this guided exhibition tour of Designing Peace, visitors will encounter a wide range of design responses from around the world that look at ways to create and sustain a more durable peace—from creative confrontations that challenge existing structures to designs that demand embracing justice and truth in a search for reconciliation.

In this guided exhibition tour of Designing Peace, visitors will encounter a wide range of design responses from around the world that look at ways to create and sustain a more durable peace—from creative confrontations that challenge existing structures to designs that demand embracing justice and truth in a search for reconciliation. Tour led by Cynthia E. Smith, Curator of Socially Responsible Design and curator of the exhibition.

What would you display in a storefront during the holidays? In this hands-on workshop for ages 5–12, participants will explore the basic principles and elements of design to create a retail window display for an imaginary client during the holiday season. From color contrast to form and placement, we’ll take you through the ins-and-outs of making a display that stand out from the crowd.

This year, Cooper Hewitt is pleased to host the Design Career Fair for students enrolled at the High School of Art and Design in New York City. This annual event welcomes students to speak with National Design Award winners, guest designers, and colleges on the many pathways toward creative careers. Designers from every discipline, including fashion, architecture, product design, graphic design, UX, and more, will be available to discuss everything from mentorship and education to the future of the field. While this year’s program is limited to students enrolled at the High School of Art and Design, we encourage you to browse the resources below to explore career opportunities in design and more.