Family Program | Summer Design series

Drop in to the museum on Wednesdays in July to flex your creative muscles, imagine new possibilities, and take on fun design challenges as a family! Check out inspiring and innovative objects in Design Across Time: Exploring the Smithsonian’s Design Collection, on view on the first floor.

Family drop-in activities are designed for youth ages 5–12 and their adult guardian/caregivers. Family programs are included in the price of museum admission, and youth 18 and under are always free.

July 29 | Iterate

What would a grumpy toothbrush look like? Or a sleepy pair of eyeglasses? Design a new take on an everyday object. Let chance dictate your design: Spin the wheel to determine your adjective and choose from a grab bag to match it with an object.

ACCESSIBILITY & WHAT TO EXPECT

  • Format: This is a drop-in style workshop for youth ages 5-12 and their adult guardian/family. You will be supported by museum facilitators to make a design. All materials will be provided. Adults must stay with their youth during the activity and are encouraged to participate. Registration is not required, but first come, first seated.
  • About the space: This program will take place in Cooper Hewitt’s Lecture Room on the ground floor of the museum. It is fully wheelchair accessible. There will be group seating at tables. There is an accessible restroom on the ground floor. Reading with therapy dogs will take place in the first floor galleries. Read more about accessibility at Cooper Hewitt.
  • Accommodations: Staff experienced in conducting accessible workshops will be present. Families will have access to sensory supports and adaptive materials. We welcome questions and accommodation requests that support your participation. Email us at CHEducation@si.edu or call 212 849-8353. Please make your request as far in advance as possible—preferably at least ten days before the program date.

Special Thanks

Design learning at Cooper Hewitt is made possible by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Generous support is also provided by the Smithsonian Institution’s Together We Thrive Initiatives, the Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation, and the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation.

Design Across Time: Exploring the Smithsonian’s Design Collection received major support from Jon and Shigemi Iwata, and Lisa Roberts and David Seltzer. Additional generous support has been made by Amita and Purnendu Chatterjee, the Lily Auchincloss Foundation, the Terra Foundation for American Art, the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation, Irene Au and Bradley Horowitz, and Chris and Irma Fralic. This project received funding from the Smithsonian’s “Our Shared Future: 250,” a Smithsonian-wide initiative supported by private philanthropy and created to commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary and advance the Smithsonian vision for the next 250 years.