This May, the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum will celebrate NYCxDesign—New York City’s citywide event to showcase and promote design of all disciplines—with several initiatives, including the Design by Hand series, a programmatic takeover of Public School 124 in Queens, Design Tales for toddlers and design fair partnerships.
Now in its second year, NYCxDesign, held May 9–20, spans all design disciplines and brings together commerce, culture, education and entertainment with a full, varied program of exhibitions, openings, installations, shows, talks and open studios.
“It is enormously gratifying to see the excitement about and around design multiply and reach brand new audiences through this slew of exciting design events all week long,” said Caroline Baumann, the museum’s director. “This year, Cooper-Hewitt will be expanding its program offerings to include a design takeover of P.S. 124 in Queens that will reach more than 800 students, workshops for our youngest designers in Harlem, a full suite of Design by Hand programs for all ages and participation in the Collective and WantedDesign fairs.”
Design by Hand with Heath Ceramics, May 6–May 10
From May 6-10, Cooper-Hewitt will present the second program in the Design by Hand series, which focuses on the craftsmanship, innovations and merits of pioneering design organizations. The weeklong program will spotlight Heath Ceramics, whose iconic tableware and tile are still made in small runs on the premises of its Sausalito, Calif., dinnerware factory and new San Francisco tile factory, just as they have been since 1948. Programs include hands-on workshops for teens, college students, adults and families. A public lecture will explore the history and inspiration behind the brand. Advance registration required at www.cooperhewitt.org/designbyhand.
Design by Hand is made possible by the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Design in the Classroom, May 9–May 19
P.S./M.S. 124, South Ozone Park, Queens
The entire student body of P.S./M.S. 124 in South Ozone Park, Queens, will participate in Design in the Classroom, Cooper-Hewitt’s ongoing program that sends design educators into classrooms for free 45-minute hands-on workshops. Students engage in the design process through active observation, critical discussion and teamwork to solve a challenge through prototyping, and present their design solutions. The program imparts essential 21st-century skills, such as critical thinking, visual literacy, teamwork and problem solving and can be used to enhance the teaching of any subject matter, including mathematics, science, environmental studies, language arts, history and visual arts. The Design in the Classroom has reached 60,000 students across all five boroughs since its launch in 2011.
Target Design K-12: Design in the Classroom is made possible by the generous support of Target.
Design Tales, May 13 and May 20; 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
Cooper-Hewitt Design Center (111 Central Park North, New York)
The Design Tales program aims to teach kids that design is all around them by making them active participants in the design process. Toddlers participate in interactive reading sessions that focus on design-based books that reinforce basic elements of design such as shape, line, color and texture, as well as ideas such as material, functionality and form. Free. Advance registration is required.
Target Design Kids is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Target.
Collective 2, May 8–May 11
Skylight at Moynihan Station (312 West 33rd St., New York)
The Collective 2 design fair presents the best in contemporary and 20th-century design from a range of galleries from around the world. The museum will offer curator-led tours of the fair, a public talk with curator of contemporary design Ellen Lupton and a pop-up retail shop.
WantedDesign, May 16–May 19
The Terminal Stores (269 Eleventh Ave., New York)
The WantedDesign fair brings together emerging and established names from the global design industry. The Shop at Cooper-Hewitt will be participating with a retail pop-up featuring a unique selection of books and objects, including many exclusive items.
About the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
As the only museum in the nation devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design, Cooper-Hewitt educates, inspires and empowers people through design. The museum is undergoing a transformative renovation resulting in 60 percent more gallery space and will open in late 2014 with an entirely new visitor experience. During the renovation, Cooper-Hewitt’s events and education programs are popping up locally at the Cooper-Hewitt Design Center in Harlem and nationally with the Design in the Classroom program in New Orleans, New York City, San Antonio, Washington, D.C., Cleveland and Minneapolis.
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