Cooper Hewitt National Design Award
Overview
The Cooper Hewitt National Design Award is an annual award presented by Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. The award was established in 2000 as a means to honor lasting achievement in American design. The awards are given in various disciplines of design, including but not limited to architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, product design, communication design, corporate design, interaction design, and fashion design.
History
The Cooper Hewitt National Design Award was established in the year 2000 by the Smithsonian Institution. The award was conceived as a means to honor and recognize the outstanding achievements in American design. The award is named after the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, which is the only museum in the United States devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design.
Award Categories
The Cooper Hewitt National Design Award is presented in several categories. These categories have evolved over the years to reflect the changing landscape of design. The current categories include:
- Architecture Design
- Communication Design
- Fashion Design
- Interaction Design
- Interior Design
- Landscape Architecture
- Product Design
Each category recognizes work that exemplifies innovation, public impact, and excellence in design.
Selection Process
The winners of the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award are selected through a rigorous process. The process begins with a call for nominations, which are solicited nationwide from a diverse group of designers, educators, journalists, cultural figures, and corporate leaders.
Once the nominations are received, they are reviewed by a jury of design leaders and educators. The jury evaluates the nominees based on their body of work and the impact of their designs on the public. The winners are then selected through a consensus of the jury.
Impact
The Cooper Hewitt National Design Award has had a significant impact on the field of design in the United States. The award has helped to raise public awareness of design and its role in improving the quality of life. It has also helped to elevate the profile of designers and to recognize the value of good design in everyday life.
Notable Winners
Over the years, the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award has been presented to a number of notable designers and design firms. These include:
- Zaha Hadid, for Architecture Design
- Paula Scher, for Communication Design
- Issey Miyake, for Fashion Design
- Bill Moggridge, for Interaction Design
- Michael Van Valkenburgh, for Landscape Architecture
- Apple Inc., for Product Design
Each of these winners has made significant contributions to their respective fields of design.