Advanced robotic prosthetics are breaking down the difference between human and machine, while consumer products equipped with cameras, sensors, and software seek to observe and learn from our behavior. As smart phones, thermostats, and robotic vacuum cleaners become more autonomous and lifelike, people develop emotional relationships with them. Join Cooper Hewitt curator Ellen Lupton as...
The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt has recently acquired several original prototypes and drawings used to develop OXO’s Good Grips product line. Cooper-Hewitt curators identified this line for the museum’s collection because the products were a game-changing innovation iconic of late 20th century design. Watch this video to learn more about the story behind the objects.
This video tells the design story behind the elegant and ever-evolving National Design Awards trophy, which has been awarded in all its iterations to hundreds of renowned designers since the program’s inception in 2000. Music by Benjamin Bernstein.
Student teams work with designers to develop and create molds using traditional techniques and 3-D printing technology to enter into the third annual Jell-O Mold Competition scheduled for June 25, 2011. Workshop sessions are hosted at Cooper-Hewitt, Eyebeam Art + Technology Center, and Smart Design. 3D printing materials at Eyebeam were generously provided by Stratasys.
Design is about people, not things… Not just a catchphrase, it’s the key to Smart Design’s success. Over 90% of their designs have been brought to market, an impressive statistic for any industry. Their formula is simple: understanding the differing needs of people results in design that is truly universal. Cooper-Hewitt Members enjoyed a ‘fireside...
The 2010 Product Design award goes to Smart Design. Founded in 1980, Smart Design is led by Davin Stowell and Tom Dair. They are a multidisciplinary design consultancy, responsible for designing the OXO Good Grips kitchen tools, the SmartGauge instrument cluster for the Ford Fusion Hybrid, New York City taxi graphics, and medical devices for...
2010 National Design Award winners participate in a panel discussion about their inspiration and drive as designers and the state of contemporary design in America. Moderated by Stephen Doyle, Communication Design Winner. Speakers include:
Tom Dair, Smart Design, Product Design Winner
Stephen Kieran, KieranTimberlake, Architecture Design Winner
Ellen Neises, James Corner Field Operations, Landscape Design Winner
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Gary Hustwit’s latest film, Objectified is playing at the IFC downtown for a limited run. Hustwit himself is seemingly traveling along with the film to nearly fifty venues between now and mid-summer, so both he and the film are likely coming to a venue near you if you happen not to be in New York....
The winner and two finalists of the Corporate Achievement category are, together, quite different from the winners of the past. As a whole, they represent what is possible at a smaller scale. The Walker does its amazing work in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Heath Ceramics has been handcrafting tiles and tableware in the same way for over...
