New York City’s Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, a branch of the Smithsonian Institution, is the only American museum dedicated to historic and contemporary design. Founded in 1897 by Sarah, Amy and Eleanor Hewitt, who were granddaughters of industrialist Peter Cooper, the museum originated as part of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, and is located in the historic Andrew Carnegie mansion on Fifth Avenue in New York City.
Since 1967, the Cooper-Hewitt has been a branch of the Smithsonian Institution, which is based in Washington D.C. Through its collections, programs and library, it is the Cooper-Hewitt’s
mission to “advance the public understanding of design across the twenty-four centuries of human creativity.”
Each year, the Cooper-Hewitt announces recipients of its prestigious National Design Awards in several different categories including architecture, interior design, landscape, fashion, product design, and more. The awards honor excellence in American design, with nominees coming from many different design disciplines across the United States.
Since 2000, the awards have sought to "increase national awareness of design by educating the public and promoting excellence, innovation, and lasting achievement." A series of educational programs based on the work of the award winners follows the awards each year to round out the overall series.
Click
here to view past Cooper-Hewitt National Design Award Winners.