Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum marks the 10th anniversary of National Design Week Oct. 10–18, 2015 with a range of programs for students, teachers, design professionals and the general public celebrating the important role that design plays in all aspects of daily life. The museum’s largest educational initiative, National Design Week is a highlight of Cooper Hewitt’s full suite of fall programs, which include the return of Design by Hand, a series of workshops for all ages led by designers from Pixar Animation Studios; Game Changers, a new program of conversations with influential and innovative practitioners; and exhibition-related lectures on graphic design and architecture.
“Our education programs bring the public into dynamic contact with the world’s most celebrated innovators and problem solvers in design today, including many of our National Design Awards winners,” said Caroline Baumann, director of Cooper Hewitt. “Participants are immersed in design’s rapidly changing landscape and the field’s latest innovations, while also gaining critical design-thinking skills.”
Launched in 2006, National Design Week makes design widely accessible to the public through interactive events and programs for students, teachers, corporate professionals, designers and other members of Cooper Hewitt’s dedicated audience. Kicking off with the Target Family Design Festival Oct. 10 and 11, the week continues with events such as the Teen Design Fair, and a panel with winners of the 2015 National Design Awards, among many others.

Design By Hand, Part of the Cooper Hewitt’s National Design Week festivities
This fall’s Design by Hand series focuses on the craftsmanship and innovations of pioneering film studio Pixar Animation Studios, concurrent with the exhibition “Pixar: The Design of Story.” John Lasseter, Pixar’s chief creative officer, will give a Design Talk Nov. 12, moderated by Michael Bierut, partner in the New York design firm Pentagram. Programs led by Pixar’s creative staff include hands-on workshops for teens, families, college students and adults on all facets of the design process.
Launched in April 2015 with Tim Brown, CEO and president of IDEO, Game Changers is a new program of conversations with designers, thinkers and industry leaders across design disciplines. The series continues this fall with graphic designer Irma Boom, architect Bjarke Ingels and interactive designer Jeff Han.
In conjunction with the current exhibition “How Posters Work,” Experimental Jetset joins senior curator of contemporary design Ellen Lupton in conversation Sept. 16, while Philippe Apeloig and Georgie Stout helm a Graphic Design Meet Up Sept. 26.
On Oct. 8, Thomas Heatherwick speaks with architectural critic and Vanity Fair contributing editor Paul Goldberger about his studio’s origins and current work, some of which is on view in “Provocations: The Architecture and Design of Heatherwick Studio,” in a lecture at Cooper Union.
NATIONAL DESIGN WEEK: OCT. 10–18, 2015
Target Family Design Festival
Saturday, Oct. 10, and Sunday, Oct. 11; 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2 East 91st St., New York City
A free two-day family festival with educational activities for all ages, including scavenger hunts, workshops and storytelling, celebrating the 10th anniversary of National Design Week.
Design Tales Family Programs
Monday, Oct. 12, and Wednesday, Oct. 14; 10–11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2 East 91st St., New York City
Tuesday, Oct. 13, and Thursday, Oct. 15; 10–11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Cooper Hewitt Design Center, 111 Central Park North, New York City
A free literacy-based program for preschool children ages 2 to 5 and their caregivers incorporating storytelling, design vocabulary and hands-on activities.
Drop In on Design Family Programs
Monday, Oct. 12–Friday, Oct. 16; 4–6 p.m. daily.
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2 East 91st St., New York City
A series of free afterschool programs, where families with kids ages 7 to 12 explore design through fun hands-on activities.
Teen Design Fair
Tuesday, Oct. 13; 4–6 p.m.
Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian–New York, the George Gustav Heye Center, One Bowling Green, New York City
New York City teens learn about design careers and educational opportunities from winners, jurors, guest designers and college representatives. Tim Gunn will give the keynote address.
National Design Award Winners’ Panel
Tuesday, Oct. 13; 7–8:30 p.m.
Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian–New York, the George Gustav Heye Center, One Bowling Green, New York City
A panel discussion with 2015 National Design Award winners about their inspiration. Panelists include Roman Alonso (Commune), Stephen Burks (Stephen Burks Man Made), Adi Gil (threeASFOUR) and John Underkoffler (Oblong Industries).
National Design Awards Gala (Tickets required.)
Thursday, Oct. 15
6 p.m.: Cocktail Reception
7:30 p.m.: Dinner & Awards Ceremony
Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, 23rd Street and the Westside Highway, New York City
A gala benefit dinner and awards ceremony honoring this year’s National Design Award winners. All proceeds support Cooper Hewitt’s programs that educate, inspire and empower people through design.
Target Design Kids Family Programs
Saturday, Oct. 17; 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 1:30–3 p.m.
Cooper Hewitt Design Center, 111 Central Park North, New York City
A series of free workshops where families with kids ages 5 to 12 become designers and make fun projects all day.
EXHIBITION- AND COLLECTION-RELATED PROGRAMS
Actual Size: Experimental Jetset
Wednesday, Sept. 16; 6:30 p.m.
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, 2 East 91st St., New York City
$15 general, $10 members, $8 students; registration required.
Experimental Jetset was founded by Erwin Brinkers, Marieke Stolk and Danny van den Dungen in Amsterdam in 1997. The designers are known for their rigorously systematic work, including the new identity for the Whitney Museum of American Art. Work by Experimental Jetset is included in Cooper Hewitt’s permanent collection and is featured in the exhibition “How Posters Work,” on view through Jan. 24, 2016. Continue reading →
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