The Immersion Room on the museum’s second floor features more than 200 examples of the Cooper Hewitt’s collection of wallcoverings, and allows visitors to select their favorites or draw their own designs, and then project them onto the gallery walls. There are “super-high-definition smart tables”—glass touchscreens mounted on aluminum pedestals—throughout the newly renovated Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in Manhattan. By running their fingers across the tables, visitors make shapes that are then displayed as hats, lamps, tables, vases, chairs, or buildings. During the museum’s opening week earlier this month, the system attracted the attention of everyone from a 4-year-old

Cynthia E. Smith Social-impact design isn't just about buildings or objects, as Cynthia E. Smith attests. Since 2009, Smith has served as the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum's Curator for Socially Responsible Design, organizing exhibitions that address the burgeoning environmental, architectural, and sociological challenges brought on by earth's increasing population. RECORD caught up with Smith to find out what she thinks are the urgent issues and exciting developments in the field. AS: How did you get involved in humanitarian work? Cynthia Smith: Because I’ve been working on civil and human rights issues most of my adult life and was trained

The Smithsonian museum aims to inspire global leaders by staging its new humanitarian design show in the United Nations Headquarters.

The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum recently announced the recipients of its ninth annual National Design Awards, prestigious accolades that recognize achievements in a range of creative disciplines. Photo courtesy Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects Tom Kundig won the Cooper-Hewitt’s National Design Award in the architecture category. View images of projects by his Seattle-based firm, Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects. Related Links: The ArchRecord Interview: Tom Kundig Rolling Huts by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Stilt Cabin by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Skinner Studio by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Rockwell to Transform Steel Mill Into Arts Center A Bedazzled, Pop-Up Restaurant