On March 3, Cooper-Hewitt’s Members (Contributing level and above) joined the private opening of west elm’s newest location on the upper west side. Event designer extraordinaire David Stark created one-of-a-kind furniture and objects from recycled west elm packing materials and catalogs. Items were auctioned to benefit Cooper-Hewitt, and remain on display in the store throughout...

Fashioning Felt on view Mar 6 through Sept 7, 2009 at Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. This exhibition explores the varied new uses of felt in a range of fields, including product design, fashion, architecture, and home furnishings.

Many people complain that technology is isolating people from their fellow humans. I disagree. E-mail, cell phones, FedEx, Blackberries, and other systems are keeping people more in touch than ever. Indeed, many of us are expected to be “reachable” 24/7. One of the themes of Design Life Now is how design brings people together, through...