National Design Week and the National Design Awards are sponsored by Target.
The annual National Design Awards honor the year’s most outstanding contributions from the design world. The 2008 National Design Award finalists and Award recipients will be announced on May 8, 2008, followed by a panel discussion on May 13, 2008 with this year's Awards jurors, a diverse group of leading figures in the design field.
JULY 14, 2008Mrs. Laura Bush, the 2008 National Design Awards Honorary Patron, welcomed the winners and finalists for a special reception at the White House. Click here to view Mrs. Bush’s remarks.
SEPTEMBER 22–OCTOBER 21, 2008The People’s Design Award gives the general public an opportunity to nominate and vote for a design of their choice by logging on to cooperhewitt.org. Voting begins September 22, 2008, and the winning design will be announced on October 23, 2008, at the National Design Awards gala in New York City.
OCTOBER 19–25, 2008Launched in 2006, National Design Week is an education initiative offering free admission for all museum visitors and hosting a series of public programs surrounding the National Design Awards. Learn more
OCTOBER 20, 2008New York City area teens are invited to the museum to learn about design careers from professional designers and design colleges.
OCTOBER 21, 2008National Design Award winners participate in a panel discussion about the state of contemporary design in America.
OCTOBER 22, 2008Business leaders discuss how design impacts their overall strategy and affects their bottom line.
OCTOBER 23, 2008Cooper-Hewitt celebrates the 2008 National Design Awards with its annual Awards ceremony and dinner held in the Museum’s Arthur Ross Terrace and Garden.
OCTOBER 24, 2008Educators are invited to celebrate National Design Week by learning about Cooper-Hewitt's many education programs. The museum’s staff will share information about online resources, tours, youth programs and professional development opportunities.