Cooper Hewitt National Design Awards 2026 Celebrates Diverse Honorees Amid Political Tensions
On Monday, the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum celebrated its 2026 National Design Awards gala in New York, recognizing winners across 10 distinct categories selected by an independent panel. Among the distinguished recipients were Thought Matter, Laura Kurgan, and Estudio Teddy Cruz + Fonna Forman. The event took place at the National Museum of the American Indian and attracted notable figures such as Martha Stewart and Joe Gebbia. Addressing pressing issues like AI and climate change, Kurgan highlighted Columbia University's $200 million federal settlement. The evening featured a dessert performance by Laila Gohar and a live marching band. Now in its 26th year, these awards trace their roots back to the White House Millennium Council established under Clinton, representing the highest honor in American design.
Key facts
- Cooper Hewitt hosted the 2026 National Design Awards gala in New York on Monday evening.
- Honorees include Thought Matter, Laura Kurgan, and Estudio Teddy Cruz + Fonna Forman.
- The gala was held at the National Museum of the American Indian.
- Attendees included Martha Stewart, Thom Browne, Maya Lin, Jenna Lyons, Tory Burch, and Joe Gebbia.
- Laura Kurgan referenced Columbia University's $200 million federal settlement in her speech.
- Teddy Cruz dedicated his award to immigrant communities.
- The event featured a dessert performance by Laila Gohar with cakes shaped like museum collection items.
- The awards originated from the White House Millennium Council under the Clinton administration.
Entities
Artists
- Laura Kurgan
- Teddy Cruz
- Fonna Forman
- Laila Gohar
- Maya Lin
- Robert Earl Paige
- Josh Tafoya
- Mattaforma
- Frida Escobedo
- Charlap Hyman & Herrero
- Ten Eyck Landscape Architects
- Thought Matter
- Adam Charlap Hyman
- Andre Herrero
- Christine Ten Eyck
- Berea College Student Craft
- Martha Stewart
- Thom Browne
- Jeremy O. Harris
- Andrew Bolton
- Maria Cornejo
- Melitta Baumeister
- Liz Collins
- Tonatiuh Elizarraraz
- Aaron Beale
- Lindsey Wikstrom
- Tom Jaffe
- Jessie McGuire
- Kelly Connor
- Henry R. Muñoz III
- Sandra Lee
Institutions
- Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
- Smithsonian Institution
- National Portrait Gallery
- National Museum of the American Indian
- Columbia University
- White House Millennium Council
- Airbnb
- Berea College Student Craft
- Thought Matter
- Estudio Teddy Cruz + Fonna Forman
- Mattaforma
- Frida Escobedo Studio
- Charlap Hyman & Herrero
- Ten Eyck Landscape Architects
- Wallpaper*
- Adobe
- MillerKnoll
- Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
- Target
- Tiffany & Co.
- Galerie Magazine
Locations
- New York
- Washington, D.C.
- United States
- US-Mexico border