EXPLORE DESIGN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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?”

Explore DESIGN ACROSS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Get inspired by designs that have made an impact over the past 250 years from Cooper Hewitt and other Smithsonian collections. Each design represents a community, captures a unique chapter in history, or reflects shared ideals, contributing to the nation’s future. Visit Explore America to see more objects in the Smithsonian’s collections. Learn more about the 2026 competition and get started!

Alabama

Black and white silhouette of a quilt with 9 square panels filled with horizontal and vertical stripes, enclosed by a thick black border.
Sharecropper’s Masterpiece

Alaska

A black and white silhouette of an oblong shaped mask. There are two thin horizontal slits to see through.
Snow Goggles

Arizona

A black and white illustration of a low cut athletic show with a thick sole, shown in profile.
Athletic Shoes Found in Sonoran Desert

Arkansas

Black and white silhouette of a large, symmetrical building with multiple stores, arched windows, and a central tower.
The Little Rock Nine

California

Black and white illustration of a vintage desktop computer with a large vertical rectangular monitor. In front of the monitor is a keyboard and wired mouse.
Macintosh Personal Computer

Colorado

Black and white silhouette of a rounded ceramic jar with a lid, decorated with simple banded details. The base of the jar curves out then in then out again near the top.
Bean Pot

Connecticut

A Black and white silhouette of a lidded pot with a long wooden side handle. The base of the pot is cylindrical with a domed lid.
His Royal Highness Coffee Service

Delaware

Black silhouette of a single long stocking from a side profile.
Experimental stockings

Florida

Black and white silhouette resembling a postage stamp, featuring a bird that looks like a heron in profile with the outline of the state of Florida behind it.
3c Everglades National Park single

Georgia

Black and white silhouette of a circular object with multiple concentric rings and a small center dot, resembling a vinyl record.
Little Richard & Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Hawai'i

Black and white illustration of a curved fruit slice with several crescent-shaped sections inside.
Feather Cape

Idaho

Black and white silhouette of a tall, cylindrical woven basket with a slightly flared rim and a textured detailing along the top edge.
Berry box/container

Illinois

Black and white silhouette of a farm tractor shown in profile, with large rear wheels, smaller front wheels, and a steering wheel visible.
Tractor, for John Deere

Indiana

Black and white silhouette of a long bench, that has a curved legs and a flat surface attached to the back of the bench.
Joseph Ingles's 1870 School Desk and Seat Patent Model

Iowa

Black and white silhouette of a decorative quilt-like pattern featuring a grid of repeated floral or butterfly-shaped motifs, surrounded by a bordered Fram with a ribbon and tassel details.
1865 - 1875 Lizzie Lisle's "Fold and Cut" Appliqued Quilt

Kansas

Black and white silhouette of an oval table with four slender, curved legs.
Dining room table from the home of Lucinda Todd

Kentucky

Black and white silhouette of a long, narrow stringed instrument resembling a dulcimer, shown vertically with tuning pegs at the top and a small heart-shaped sound holes near the base.
Appalachian Dulcimer, used by Jean Ritchie

Louisiana

Black and white silhouette of a large lidded cooking pot with side handles.
Magnalite pot used by Chef Leah Chase at Dooky Chase restaurant

Maine

Black and white silhouette of a tall lighthouse with a circular lantern room and surrounding railing.
West Quoddy Head, Maine

Maryland

Black and white silhouette of a raised clenched fist with a white line forming an infinity symbol inside the arm.
Poster with the Black Disabled Lives Matter Solidarity Fist design

Massachusetts

Black and white silhouette of a classic teapot with a rounded body, lid, curved handle, and spout, shown in silhouette against a white background.
No Stamp Act Teapot

Michigan

Black and white silhouette of an early automobile with an open cabin, thin wheels, and a simple steering wheel, shown in profile.
1926 Ford Model T roadster

Minnesota

Black and white silhouette of a boxy electronic device with two dials on the front, knows on top, and side handles.
Medtronic 5800 Pacemaker

Mississippi

Black and white silhouette of a wide-brimmed hat with a band around the crown that reads, “FREEDOM”.
Straw hat worn during the 1966 March Against Fear

Missouri

Black and white silhouette of a domed building framed beneath a large arch.
St. Louis, Gateway to the West

Montana

Black and white silhouette of an open case containing vintage reel to reel audio recorder with two large circular reels and control knobs.
Holter Monitor

Nebraska

Black and white silhouette of a two piece outfit consisting of a short sleeved blouse with a tied neck scarf and a long pleated skirt or trousers.
Basketball Shorts, 1922-1924

Nevada

Black and white silhouette of a pair of jeans with wide legs, belt loops, and front pockets.
Levi's Brown Duck Trousers

New Hampshire

Black and white silhouette showing a rugged mountain profile that looks like a human face.
Franconia Notch New Hampshire

New Jersey

Black and white silhouette of a large light bulb.
Edison "New Year's Eve" Lamp

New Mexico

Black and white silhouette of a tall, narrow wooden chair with a high back, decorative cutout patterns, and slender legs.
Ah-Day: The Favorite One's Chair

New York

Black and white silhouette of an awareness ribbon with a looped top and crossed ends.
AIDS Awareness Pin

North Carolina

Black and white silhouette of an early airplane with a single wing, exposed framework, and propeller.
1903 Wright Flyer

North Dakota

Black and white silhouette of a long traditional dress with short sleeves, decorative trim along the edges and patterned side panels.
A Warrior's Story, Honoring Grandpa Blue Bird

Ohio

Black and white silhouette of a tall ceramic vessel or jar with a rounded body and narrow opening.
Vase

Oklahoma

Black and white silhouette of a woven rectangular mat or textile with vertical striped patterns.
Heddle

Oregon

Black and white silhouette of a hooded head in profile facing left, with a small nike logo mark on the side of the hood.
Nike Pro Hijab

Pennsylvania

Black and white silhouette of a mannequin head on a stand wearing a wrapped headscarf or turban.
Pink turban style hat and scarf from Mae's Millinery Shop

Puerto Rico

Black and white silhouette of a carved comb featuring a human face profile at the handle and long vertical teeth extending upward.
Puyero de Güiro

Rhode Island

Black and white silhouette of a rounded hand held fan on a stick.
Fan, Rhode Island Woman Suffrage Party

South Carolina

Black and white silhouette of a stacked, tiered basket with horizontal bands that taper in and out.
In and Out Basket

South Dakota

Black and white silhouette of a decorative textile panel featuring geometric starburst pattern within a square border, with long rectangular fringe hanging from the bottom.
Wall hanging

Tennessee

Black and white silhouette of a violin shown vertically, with a rounded body, narrow waist, long neck, and tuning pegs at the top.
Potter Folk Fiddle

Texas

Black and white silhouette of a rectangular handheld radio or walkie-talkie with a large circular speaker near the top, small buttons arranged in a grid below, and two short antenna lines extending upward.
Regency TR-1 Radio

U.S. Territories of the Pacific

Black and white silhouette of a carved figure with a rounded head and a narrow, two part body.
29c Northern Mariana Islands single

U.S. Virgin Islands

Black silhouette of a woven basket with rounded sides and a single curved handle attached at the top.
St. John Market Basket

Utah

Black and white silhouette of a circular emblem or plate showing two horseback riders traveling across a desert landscape, framed by a thick border decorated with floral motifs.
Monument Valley Plate

Vermont

Black and white silhouette of a snowflake.
Wilson Bentley Models of Snowflake Doublets No. 580

Virginia

Black and white silhouette of a circular medallion featuring a large heart shape above the letters “E.R.A”
Pinback Button, "Virginia Is For Lovers"

Washington

Black and white silhouette of a circular shape, that has two arched handles within the circle.
Fishing Ring Net Weight

Washington, D.C.

Safety Jacket: A Mourning In Chinatown

West Virginia

Black and white silhouette of a curved ceramic pitcher with a wide spout, rounded body, and oval handle opening, decorated with simple incised line details.
"Fiesta" tableware

Wisconsin

Black and white silhouette of a box shaped mechanical device with a hinged lid partially open, revealing a row of evenly spaces keys.
Sholes, Glidden, & Soule Typewriter Patent Model

Wyoming

Black and white silhouette of a short sleeve dress with a rounded neckline and decorative zigzag bands near the hem.
Girl's Pink Crocheted Dress