Smithsonian why design now

Lighter than glass fiber and similar in strength to carbon fiber, flax requires Cooper-Hewitt: Material Use. In any given day, we touch or handle thousands of different materials that are fundamental to our daily lives: a clay pot to hold the food for our dinner, a plastic toothbrush to perform our morning regimen, and a wool sweater to keep us warm and protected.

Facing a simultaneous decrease in resources and an Conference, October 1st. Solving Global Challenges Conference. Luckily, the event was streamed live, both on CooperHewitt. Growing Respect for Dirt. Angela Riechers is a student from an interdisciplinary graduate-level course on the Triennial taught by the Triennial curatorial team. We figured a follow up was warranted!

It is a car, yes, and a tiny one at that. Virtually explore these groundbreaking designs around the world, from an Italian villa to an American castle. March 9, Opening soon in the storyteller's hometown of Odense, Denmark, the museum allows visitors to experience his multilayered stories.

March 2, Seen by few until now, Glasner Studio in Chicago's Old Town is a rich mix of stained glass windows, wood carvings, tilework and bas-reliefs. December 10, Artisan America. October 26, October 2, The global pandemic will have long-lasting effects on the form and function of future museums. September 16, Invented by a former auto designer, the foot-powered kids toy still outsells engine-powered cars.

August 13, Build a personal oasis with everything from hay bales to scrap wood to a shipping container. August 6, Energy Around the world, scientists, engineers and designers are seeking ways to harness energy from the sun, wind and ocean tides and create new products and structures that use energy efficiently and self-sufficiently. Among the projects on view in this section are the Z concentrated solar-panel system, which intensifies the solar energy harnessed through the use of mirrors and tracking devices; the bioWave, an enormous underwater machine that mimics the swaying motion of seaweed and is designed to capture the kinetic energy of ocean turbulence; the Power Aware cord, which provides a real-time way for consumers to visualize their energy consumption; and the experimental desert city Masdar in the United Arab Emirates, which will be the largest and most advanced carbon-neutral community.

Mobility Allowing people to travel across town or over a continent while conserving resources requires fresh design solutions and an examination of mobility patterns and components. Community In response to ever-expanding sprawl in the developed world and escalating urban density in developing areas, architects are creating rooftop villages, urban farms and mixed-use housing developments that employ local materials and encourage harmonious, energy-efficient living at close quarters.

Materials Great efforts have been made in the past decade to address the need for more sustainable materials, which reduce the amount of energy and fossil fuels used in manufacturing. Chemists, engineers and designers are inventing everything from biodegradable, petroleum-free plastics to foam insulation that grows in the dark like a mushroom, requiring minimal energy to produce. Prosperity Progressive designers and entrepreneurs are building engines of prosperity that enable local communities to use their own resources to create their own wealth, as well as to participate in the global economy.

Health From creating prosthetic limbs controlled by the human mind to devising new ways to deliver health care to remote rural populations, designers are improving physical, mental and social wellness for everyone. Communication Smart phones, digital reading devices and social networks are changing the way people use and produce information.

The exhibition was designed by Tsang Seymour Design.