Teen Programs

A photograph of a group of teenagers and an adult are sitting around a circular table and talking. The light- brown skinned adult who wears a colorful striped button down is smiling and in conversation with the light-brown skinned teenager with short brown hair sitting on their right. On the table is a small lamp, and books titled ‘ DapperQ Style’, and many key rings. Behind them are other circular tables that have small groups of adults sitting and talking.

Teen Programs

Interested in design and looking for a place to start? Cooper Hewitt teen programs provide high school students with opportunities to meet working designers, engage in hands-on workshops, and see themselves in the future of design.

Teen Workshops

Build your design toolkit! Our teen drop-in program, Design Practice is a series of free monthly workshops exploring techniques, strategies, and careers in design. No prior experience required—just bring yourself and a creative mindset.

Design Hive

A photograph of a bird's eye view of two medium-skin toned teenagers sitting at a table and drawing on a notepad. They are drawing something in the shape of an envelope. Around them are materials such as paint brushes, leather straps and sheets, and worksheets on how to construct a leather accessory.
Design Hive is an application-based paid, youth-led internship program at Cooper Hewitt. High school juniors and seniors dive deep into design objects and processes to develop their own collaborative projects. Along the way, they will learn how designers move from an initial idea to final design.

Design Career Fair

A photograph of a group of teenagers and an adult are sitting around a circular table and talking. The dark-skinned with closely shaved hair is talking to medium-skin toned teenager sitting beside them and referencing a slide on their laptop. Behind them are other circular tables that have small groups of adults sitting and talking.
Cooper Hewitt hosts an annual Design Career Fair, where teens are invited to talk with top designers working in the fields of fashion, product design, architecture, graphic design, and more.

National High School Competition

Taking place annually, the National High School Design Competition invites students from around the country to design a solution to a unique scenario, inspired by Cooper Hewitt’s rich collection and stimulating exhibitions.

Upcoming Teen Programs

To see programs for all age levels, view our Calendar.

12/11
Wednesday
Wed. December 11, 2024
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET
Experience Cooper Hewitt’s collection and exhibitions through drawing! In this session, we'll sketch in the galleries of Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial, which explores design’s role in shaping the physical and emotional experiences of home across the United States, US Territories, and Tribal Nations. The exhibition is the seventh offering in the museum’s Design Triennial series, which was established in 2000 to address the most urgent topics of the time through the lens of design. This exhibition is full of visual imagery to spark the imagination for sketching!  .
Event Address:
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
2 E 91st Street New York, NY 10028
Free with museum admission
12/12
Thursday
Thu. December 12, 2024
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET
Build your design toolkit! Design Practice is a series of free, drop-in workshops for high school students exploring techniques, strategies, and careers in design. No prior experience required—just bring yourself and a creative mindset. This month, join us for a workshop with designer Liam Lee, whose work is featured in our current exhibition Making Home. Get inspired by Lee’s needle felting skills and learn how to create your very own needle-felted patch to add to a beanie. All materials are included!  .
Event Address:
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
2 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10128

 

Check out our online resources

Explore design activities, videos, and a Design Career Toolkit for advice on design careers, networking, and portfolio tips.

Teen Resources →