Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum is committed to re-establishing itself as one of the leading voices in design, architecture, and sustainability in the U.S. and internationally.
Leaning heavily on its unique national and public position, the museum is transforming itself to operate as a convening hub for practitioners and leaders in the design disciplines.
The goals are:
- To engage all audiences in the understanding and importance of design as a skill that improves our everyday lives and results in more informed, empowered citizens.
- To show how the design fields, working together with other disciplines, are an active part of the solution to some of the world’s most urgent challenges.
The museum will pursue this vision via unconventional and dynamic public programs, a new presentation of its permanent collection and a continued program of diverse and timely exhibition topics. This strategy will break down silos between the arts and sciences, amplify leading voices in design, and showcase design innovations from the past and present that utilize design as a tool of empowerment for a complex and crisis-ridden world.
These plans cohere around the museum’s fundamental belief in design as a regenerative solution to humanity’s most pressing issues, and highlight the museum’s strengths—our curatorial vision, unparalleled collection, and depth and breadth of programming and collaborations.
Creative collaborations with grant makers and partners will allow us to share this vision as we build community, reach new audiences across the country, and resource key programs that can inspire future generations.