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Collection by Miyoko Ohtake

National Design Awards

On Thursday, the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum announced the winners of its 11th annual National Design Awards. The program honors individuals and organizations across a variety of creative platforms, which this year included Lifetime Achievement, Design Mind, Corporate and Institutional Achievement, Architecture Deisgn, Communication Design, Fashion Design, Interaction Design, Interior Design, Landscape Design, and Product Design. We were excited to see some of our favorites—KierenTimberlake, Aidlin Darling Design, Andrea Cochran, Frog Design—among the winners and finalists and congratulate all the honorees, who will be feted on October 14 in New York.

Watch our slideshow to see this year's winners and examples of their work.

View 38 Photos
The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Jane Thompson. An editor, designer, and planner, Thompson's CV includes being the founding editor of I.D. Magazine as well as founder of the Thompson Design Group and work on urban-revitalization projects such as Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, Union Station in D.C., Navy Pier in Chicago, and the Buffalo Bayou in Houston. Photo by David Dunlap.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was given to Jane Thompson. An editor, designer, and planner, Thompson's CV includes being the founding editor of I.D. Magazine as well as founder of the Thompson Design Group and work on urban-revitalization projects such as Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston, Union Station in D.C., Navy Pier in Chicago, and the Buffalo Bayou in Houston. Photo by David Dunlap.
Jane and Benjamin Thompson collaborated to create Design Research (the Cambridge, Massachusetts, store is shown here) to bring modern design to the masses, one of the first shops in the U.S. to do so. Photo by Esto.
Jane and Benjamin Thompson collaborated to create Design Research (the Cambridge, Massachusetts, store is shown here) to bring modern design to the masses, one of the first shops in the U.S. to do so. Photo by Esto.
Ralph Caplan was honored with the Design Mind Award, which recognizes "visionary individuals or firms that have affected a shift in design thinking or practice through writing, research, and scholarship." Photo by Judith Ramquist.
Ralph Caplan was honored with the Design Mind Award, which recognizes "visionary individuals or firms that have affected a shift in design thinking or practice through writing, research, and scholarship." Photo by Judith Ramquist.
Among Caplan's works were By Design: Why There Are No Locks on the Bathroom Doors int he Hotel Louis XIV and Other Object Lessons and Cracking the Whip: Essays on Design and Its Side Effects. Caplan was also a former editor of I.D. Magazine. Photo by Lee Iley.
Among Caplan's works were By Design: Why There Are No Locks on the Bathroom Doors int he Hotel Louis XIV and Other Object Lessons and Cracking the Whip: Essays on Design and Its Side Effects. Caplan was also a former editor of I.D. Magazine. Photo by Lee Iley.
The U.S. Green Building Council, which created the LEED program, was given the Corporate and Institutional Achievement Award. Shown here is the Gish Apartments in San Jose, California, a LEED Gold-certified project designed by OJK Architecture and Planning. Photo by Andre Bernard Photography.
The U.S. Green Building Council, which created the LEED program, was given the Corporate and Institutional Achievement Award. Shown here is the Gish Apartments in San Jose, California, a LEED Gold-certified project designed by OJK Architecture and Planning. Photo by Andre Bernard Photography.
Design that Matters was one of two finalists for the Corporate and Institutional Achievement Award. The non-profit organization focuses on designs that help those in need in developing countries with products such as the Neonurture car-parts incubator, shown here. Photo by Design that Matters.
Design that Matters was one of two finalists for the Corporate and Institutional Achievement Award. The non-profit organization focuses on designs that help those in need in developing countries with products such as the Neonurture car-parts incubator, shown here. Photo by Design that Matters.
OXO was the other finalist for the Corporate and Institutional Achievement Award. The company creates products based on ergonomic design principles that achieve the goal of universal design: to be accommodating and useful to everyone's needs, not just those of the disabled. Pictured here is the company's Angled Measuring Cup. Photo by Dan Wilby Photography.
OXO was the other finalist for the Corporate and Institutional Achievement Award. The company creates products based on ergonomic design principles that achieve the goal of universal design: to be accommodating and useful to everyone's needs, not just those of the disabled. Pictured here is the company's Angled Measuring Cup. Photo by Dan Wilby Photography.
Loblolly House, Location: Taylor's Island MD, Architect: KieranTimberlake. Contemporary house on stilts in the pine trees by the Chesapeake Bay on the Eastern Shore.
Loblolly House, Location: Taylor's Island MD, Architect: KieranTimberlake. Contemporary house on stilts in the pine trees by the Chesapeake Bay on the Eastern Shore.
One of the two finalists of the Architecture Design Award was Texas-based firm Lake|Flato Architects, founded by David Lake and Ted Flato. Shown here is the group's Government Canyon State Natural Area in Helotes, Texas. Photo by Chris Cooper Photographer.
One of the two finalists of the Architecture Design Award was Texas-based firm Lake|Flato Architects, founded by David Lake and Ted Flato. Shown here is the group's Government Canyon State Natural Area in Helotes, Texas. Photo by Chris Cooper Photographer.
The second finalist for the Architecture Design Award was North-Carolina non-profit organization Design Corps, founded by Bryan Bell. Pictured here is a design for housing for North Carolina blueberry pickers. Rendering by James Sweeney.
The second finalist for the Architecture Design Award was North-Carolina non-profit organization Design Corps, founded by Bryan Bell. Pictured here is a design for housing for North Carolina blueberry pickers. Rendering by James Sweeney.
Machiavelli: The Discourses was a project constructed by Doyle Partners in 2007 that lead to several similar commissions. Photo by Doyle Partners.
Machiavelli: The Discourses was a project constructed by Doyle Partners in 2007 that lead to several similar commissions. Photo by Doyle Partners.
John Jay, global executive creative director and partner of Wieden+Kennedy advertising agency was named a finalist for the Communication Design Award. Photo by Ben Clark.
John Jay, global executive creative director and partner of Wieden+Kennedy advertising agency was named a finalist for the Communication Design Award. Photo by Ben Clark.
Pictured here, album covers created by John Jay's advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy. Art by Mahro, Solobongnu-sensei.
Pictured here, album covers created by John Jay's advertising agency Wieden+Kennedy. Art by Mahro, Solobongnu-sensei.
The other finalist for the Communication Design Award was Maira Kalman, a designer, author, and artist best known for her illustrations for the cover of the New Yorker. Photo by Rick Meyerowitz.
The other finalist for the Communication Design Award was Maira Kalman, a designer, author, and artist best known for her illustrations for the cover of the New Yorker. Photo by Rick Meyerowitz.
Kalman's illustrations have graced many a New Yorker cover. Here, a piece called New Yorkistan, published in 2001. Photo by Maira Kalman.
Kalman's illustrations have graced many a New Yorker cover. Here, a piece called New Yorkistan, published in 2001. Photo by Maira Kalman.
RODARTE FW10 NEW YORK 02/16/2010
RODARTE FW10 NEW YORK 02/16/2010
Behnaz Sarafpour was one of two finalists for the Fashion Design Award. Pictured here is Sarafpour's Gold Knotted Ribbon Necklace. Photo by Saks Fifth Avenue.
Behnaz Sarafpour was one of two finalists for the Fashion Design Award. Pictured here is Sarafpour's Gold Knotted Ribbon Necklace. Photo by Saks Fifth Avenue.
The other finalist for the Fashion Design Award was Proenza Schouler, a design house comprising Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. Shown here is a runway look from their spring/summer 2010 collection. Photo by Proenza Schouler.
The other finalist for the Fashion Design Award was Proenza Schouler, a design house comprising Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough. Shown here is a runway look from their spring/summer 2010 collection. Photo by Proenza Schouler.

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