In this curator-guided tour of Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial, visitors will explore some of the exhibition’s 25 original commissions, highlighting design’s role in shaping the physical and emotional experiences of home across the United States, US Territories, and Tribal Nations. The exhibition is the seventh offering in the museum’s Design Triennial series, which was established...
Join an adventure in March! Embark on a scavenger hunt through the Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial galleries. Discover how creative architects tackle challenges like weather, materials, and tiny spaces. Then, try your hand at architectural mini-challenges inspired by the exhibition.
Do you have a young artist, bookworm, or budding designer at home? In February, join Black Artists + Designers Guild to design your own dream library, in conjunction with their installation “The Underground Library” in Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial.
Take a deep dive into the creative process and extraordinary designs of midcentury designer Alexander Girard (1907-1993). Join designer Todd Oldham and writer Kiera Coffee in a discussion around their new publication, Alexander Girard: Let the Sun In (Phaidon, 2024), with Susan Brown, Acting Head of Textiles and Associate Curator. Brown will highlight Cooper Hewitt’s extensive holdings of Girard textiles and objects, and the ways in which his sensational colors and patterns are still inspiring designers and design lovers today.
Have you ever taken a “shelfie”? A “shelfie” is a photograph of a bookshelf in which the bookshelf’s contents reflect a portrait of the person to whom the contents belong. For this interactive workshop, join Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) to think about the power of home libraries, in conjunction with their installation “The Underground Library” in Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial.
Celebrate the holiday season by designing a letterpress poster to gift to a loved one or friend!
Experience a live performance by American Modern Opera Company (AMOC*) including Davóne Tines and The Truth, atop of “Living Room: Orlean, Virginia"— Tines’s installation with Hugh Hayden and Zack Winokur for Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial.
Experience Cooper Hewitt’s collection and exhibitions through drawing! In this session, we'll sketch in the galleries of Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial, which explores design’s role in shaping the physical and emotional experiences of home across the United States, US Territories, and Tribal Nations. The exhibition is the seventh offering in the museum’s Design Triennial series, which was established in 2000 to address the most urgent topics of the time through the lens of design. This exhibition is full of visual imagery to spark the imagination for sketching!
Build your design toolkit! Design Practice is a series of free, drop-in workshops for high school students exploring techniques, strategies, and careers in design. No prior experience required—just bring yourself and a creative mindset. This month, join us for an open drawing studio inspired by the exhibition Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial. Come enjoy snacks, music, an exhibition tour, and plenty of drawing supplies! Each participant will receive a sketchbook to take home.
