National Design Awards

The American National Design Awards, founded in 2000, are various awards funded and bestowed by the Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

See also: Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

National Design Awards
National Design Awards Logo
Awarded for	Recognizing design in USA to educate and promote excellency, innovation, and lasting achievement.
Country	United States
Presented by	Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
First award	2000
Website	National Design Awards

There are seven official design categories, and three additional awards when applicable. Any supplemental awards deemed appropriate may be awarded at the discretion of the acting jury or institution.

History

Origins

In 2000, the awards and associated programs were introduced as an official project of the White House Millennium Council.^[1][2] In 2025, the award program celebrated its twenty-fifth year.^[3]

Jury

The 2023 National Design Awards jury, chaired by Dung Ngo, editor in chief, August Journal, also included Tiffany Chu, chief of staff to the mayor, City of Boston; Carla Fernández Tena, creative director, Carla Fernández; Noah Schwarz, director of product design, Herman Miller; and Sara Zewde, principal and assistant professor of practice, Studio Zewde and Harvard University.^[4]

In 2025, the selection committee was helmed by Smithsonian Design Museum director Maria Nicanor and Maurice Cox, chair of the 2025 National Design Awards jury.^[5]

Awards

The ten official design categories^[6] include:

• Architecture
• Communication Design
• Digital Design
• Fashion Design (created in 2003)
• Interior Design (created in 2005)
• Interaction Design (created in 2009)
• Landscape Architecture
• Product Design
• Design Visionary
• Climate Action
• Emerging Designer

The three additional awards categories are:

• Lifetime Achievement
• Design Patron (created in 2001)
• Design Mind (2005–2019)

Past supplemental categories have included:

• People's Design Award (2006–2010)
• Special Commendation (Awarded in 2008)
• Special Jury Commendation (created in 2005, but omitted in 2008)
• American Original (Awarded in 2000 and 2002 only)

In 2006, the People's Design Award was created with the intent to provide the general public with the chance to nominate and vote for their favorite design. Individuals can nominate and vote for their favorite designers via the official website.^[7] The award was last given in 2010.

Candidate selection criteria

Individual candidates must be citizens or long-term residents of the United States and have been practicing design for at least 7 years. For any corporation or institution, it must have its headquarters in the United States. The honorees are selected upon a body of realized work, not for any one specific project.^[8]

Potential candidates are proposed by an official Nominating Committee and are invited to submit materials for a jury's review. Submissions consist of resumes, portfolios, publications by and about the candidates, and professional-quality audio-visual samples.^{[citation needed]}

The award recipients come from a range of design disciplines, including architecture, landscape architecture, fashion, communications, media, interiors, digital, and production design.^[9]

Objectives

With its public programs, including ones skewed toward students, the National Design Awards are meant to highlight how design impacts daily life ^[1] and "aim to increase national awareness about the impact of design in everyday life."^[10]

According to the Smithsonian, the awardees "are recognized for design innovation and impact in improving the world."^[3]

The program highlights a range of design disciplines, including architecture, landscape architecture, fashion, communications, media, interiors, digital, production design,^[9] and in 2025 for climate action design. ^[1]

For Maria Nicanor, director of the Smithsonian Museum, the award series is about how design “touches all aspects of our lives every single day—from the buildings we live, learn and work in, to the physical and digital systems that deliver our basic services, the clothes we wear, the spaces we gather in or the creativity and beauty that help us understand ourselves as a nation—and yet design’s undeniable influence can go unseen.”^[5]

The National Design Awards program include a ceremony and gala.^[10]

According to Cooper Hewitt, the program also "connects the public with award winners through free virtual talks, workshops, resources, and more."^[11]

Recipients

Frank Gehry, Lifetime Achievement winner in 2000, architect of Disney Concert Hall.

Paul MacCready, Product Design winner in 2000, AeroVironment Chairman showing a cross section of the AeroVironment/NASA Helios Prototype wing spar.

Peter Eisenman, Architecture Design winner in 2001, architect for "Cidade da Cultura" in Spain.

IDEO, Product Design winner in 2001.

Tom Ford (left), Fashion Design winner in 2003 with actress Julianne Moore.

Eva Zeisel, Lifetime Achievement winner in 2005.

Year	Award	Winner	Finalists	Ref
2000	Lifetime Achievement	Frank Gehry		[12]
2000	Corporate Achievement	Apple Computer
2000	Communications Design	Ralph Appelbaum
2000	Landscape Architecture	Lawrence Halprin
2000	Product Design	Paul MacCready
2000	American Original	John Hejduk and Morris Lapidus
2001	Lifetime Achievement	Robert Wilson		[13]
2001	Corporate Achievement	Tupperware
2001	Architecture Design	Peter Eisenman
2001	Communications Design	John Maeda
2001	Landscape Architecture	Julie Bargmann of D.I.R.T. Studio
2001	Product Design	David M. Kelley & IDEO
2001	Design Patron	Stanley Marcus
2002	Lifetime Achievement	Dan Kiley		[14]
2002	Corporate Achievement	Whirlpool Corporation
2002	Architecture Design	Steven Holl
2002	Communications Design	Lucille Tenazas
2002	Landscape Architecture	James Carpenter
2002	Product Design	Niels Diffrient
2002	Design Patron	Andre Balazs
2002	American Original	Geoffrey Beene
2003	Lifetime Achievement	I.M. Pei		[15]
2003	Corporate Achievement	Target Corporation
2003	Architecture Design	Billie Tsien and Tod Williams
2003	Communications Design	Robert Greenberg
2003	Landscape Architecture	Michael Van Valkenburgh
2003	Fashion Design	Tom Ford
2003	Product Design	Herman Miller
2003	Design Patron	Gordon Segal
2004	Lifetime Achievement	Milton Glaser		[16]
2004	Corporate Achievement	Aveda Corporation
2004	Architecture Design	Rick Joy and Polshek Partnership
2004	Communications Design	@radical.media
2004	Landscape Architecture	William A. McDonough and Parrtners
2004	Fashion Design	Yeohlee Teng
2004	Product Design	Yves Béhar
2004	Design Patron	Amanda M. Burden
2005	Lifetime Achievement	Eva Zeisel		[17]
2005	Corporate Achievement	Patagonia		[17]
2005	Architecture Design	Diller Scofidio + Renfro	Tom Kundig, Antoine Predock	[17]
2005	Communications Design	Stefan Sagmeister	2x4, Paula Scher	[17]
2005	Landscape Architecture	Ned Kahn	Kathryn Gustafson, Peter Walker and Partners	[17]
2005	Fashion Design	Toledo Studio	Maria Cornejo, Project Alabama	[17]
2005	Product Design	Burt Rutan	Boym Partners, Bill Stumpf	[17]
2005	Design Patron	Richard M. Daley, Mayor of Chicago		[17]
2005	Design Mind	Katherine McCoy and Michael McCoy		[17]
2005	Interior Design	Richard Gluckman	Michael Gabellini, Hugh Hardy	[17]
2005	Special Jury Commendation	Sergio Palleroni		[17]
2006	Lifetime Achievement	Paolo Soleri		[18]
2006	Corporate Achievement	Nike, Inc.		[18]
2006	Architecture Design	Thom Mayne	Stanley Saitowitz, Bernard Tschumi	[18]
2006	Communications Design	2x4	Jake Barton, Chip Kidd	[18]
2006	Landscape Architecture	Martha Schwartz	Andrea Cochran, Ken Smith	[18]
2006	Fashion Design	Maria Cornejo	Thom Browne, Peter Som	[18]
2006	Product Design	Bill Stumpf	Antenna Design, Jonathan Ive	[18]
2006	Design Patron	Craig Robins	n/a	[18]
2006	People's Choice	The Katrina Cottage by Marianne Cusato	n/a	[18]
2006	Design Mind	Paola Antonelli	n/a	[18]
2006	Interior Design	Michael Gabellini	Annabelle Selldorf, Tsao & McKown Architects	[18]
2006	Special Jury Commendation	Syd Mead	n/a	[18]
2007	Lifetime Achievement	Antoine Predock		[19][20]
2007	Corporate Achievement	Adobe Systems		[19]
2007	Architecture Design	Office dA – Monica Ponce de Leon / Nader Tehrani		[19]
2007	Communications Design	Chip Kidd		[19]
2007	Landscape Architecture	PWP Landscape Architecture		[19]
2007	Fashion Design	Rick Owens		[19]
2007	Product Design	Jonathan Ive		[19]
2007	Design Patron	Maharam		[19]
2007	People's Choice	TOMS Shoes by Blake Mycoskie		[19]
2007	Design Mind	Denise Scott Brown and Robert Venturi		[19]
2007	Interior Design	Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis		[19]
2007	Special Jury Commendation	Frank Ching		[19]
2008	Lifetime Achievement	Charles Harrison		[21]
2008	Corporate Achievement	Google, Inc.		[21]
2008	Architecture Design	Tom Kundig		[21]
2008	Communications Design	Scott Stowell		[21]
2008	Landscape Architecture	OLIN		[21][22]
2008	Fashion Design	Ralph Rucci		[21]
2008	Product Design	Antenna Design		[21]
2008	Design Patron	Architecture for Humanity		[21]
2008	People's Choice	Stuart Karten Design (for the Zon hearing aid)		[21]
2008	Design Mind	Michael Bierut		[21]
2008	Interior Design	Rockwell Group		[21]
2008	Design Commendation	Janna Bullock		[21]
2009	Lifetime Achievement	Bill Moggridge		[23][24]
2009	Corporate Achievement	Walker Art Center		[23]
2009	Architecture Design	SHoP Architects		[23]
2009	Communications Design	The New York Times Graphics Department		[23]
2009	Landscape Architecture	Hood Design		[23]
2009	Fashion Design	Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein Collection		[23]
2009	Product Design	Boym Partners		[23]
2009	Design Patron	Reynold Levy		[23]
2009	People's Choice	Trek Lime Bike		[23]
2009	Design Mind	Amory B. Lovins		[23]
2009	Interior Design	Tsao & McKown Architects		[23]
2009	Interaction design	Perceptive Pixel, Inc.		[23]
2010	Lifetime Achievement	Jane Thompson		[25]
2010	Corporate Achievement	U.S. Green Building Council		[25]
2010	Architecture Design	KieranTimberlake		[25]
2010	Communications Design	Stephen Doyle		[25]
2010	Landscape Architecture	James Corner Field Operations		[25]
2010	Fashion Design	Rodarte		[25]
2010	Product Design	Smart Design		[25]
2010	People's Choice	The Braille Alphabet Bracelet by Leslie Ligon		[25][26]
2010	Design Mind	Ralph Caplan		[25]
2010	Interior Design	William Sofield		[25]
2010	Interaction design	Lisa Strausfeld		[25]
2011	Lifetime Achievement	Matthew Carter		[27][28][29]
2011	Corporate Achievement	Knoll		[27]
2011	Architecture Design	Architecture Research Office [Wikidata]		[27]
2011	Communications Design	Rick Valicenti		[27]
2011	Landscape Architecture	Gustafson Guthrie Nichol		[27]
2011	Fashion Design	J. Mendel		[27]
2011	Product Design	Continuum		[27]
2011	Design Mind	Steven Heller		[27]
2011	Interior Design	Shelton, Mindel & Associates		[27]
2011	Interaction design	Ben Fry		[27]
2012	Lifetime Achievement	Richard Saul Wurman		[30]
2012	Corporate Achievement	Design that Matters		[30]
2012	Architecture Design	Mack Scogin Merrill Elam Architects		[30]
2012	Communication Design	Rebeca Méndez		[30]
2012	Landscape Architecture	Stoss Landscape Urbanism		[30]
2012	Fashion Design	Thom Browne		[30]
2012	Product Design	Scott Wilson		[30]
2012	Design Mind	Janine Benyus		[30]
2012	Design Patron	Red Burns		[30]
2012	Interior Design	Clive Wilkinson Architects		[30]
2012	Interaction Design	Tim Huff		[30]
2013	Lifetime Achievement	James Wines		[31]
2013	Design Mind	Michael Sorkin		[31]
2013	Corporate & Institutional Achievement	TED		[31]
2013	Architecture Design	Studio Gang Architects		[31]
2013	Communication Design	Paula Scher		[31]
2013	Fashion Design	Behnaz Sarafpour		[31]
2013	Interaction Design	Local Projects		[31]
2013	Interior Design	Aidlin Darling Design		[31]
2013	Landscape Architecture	Margie Ruddick		[31]
2013	Product Design	NewDealDesign		[31]
2014	Lifetime Achievement	Ivan Chermayeff and Tom Geismar		[32]
2014	Corporate Achievement	Etsy		[32]
2014	Architecture Design	Brooks + Scarpa		[32]
2014	Communication Design	Office		[32]
2014	Landscape Architecture	Andrea Cochran Landscape Architecture		[32]
2014	Fashion Design	Narciso Rodriguez		[32]
2014	Product Design	LUNAR		[32]
2014	Design Mind	Witold Rybczynski		[32]
2014	Interior Design	Roman and Williams Buildings and Interiors		[32]
2014	Interaction Design	Aaron Koblin		[32]
2015	Lifetime Achievement	Michael Graves		[33]
2015	Director's Award	Jack Lenor Larsen		[33]
2015	Design Mind	Rosanne Haggerty		[33]
2015	Corporate & Institutional Achievement	Heath Ceramics		[33]
2015	Architecture Design	MOS Architectures		[33]
2015	Communication Design	Project Projects (Prem Krishnamurthy, Adam Michaels)		[33]
2015	Fashion Design	threeASFOUR		[33]
2015	Interaction Design	John Underkoffler		[33]
2015	Landscape Architecture	Coen + Partners		[33]
2015	Interior Design	Commune		[33]
2015	Product Design	Stephen Burks		[33]
2016	Lifetime Achievement	Moshe Safdie		[34]
2016	Director's Award	Make It Right		[34]
2016	Design Mind	Bruce Mau		[34]
2016	Corporate & Institutional Achievement	The Center for Urban Pedagogy		[34]
2016	Architecture Design	Marlon Blackwell Architects		[34]
2016	Communication Design	Geoff McFetridge		[34]
2016	Fashion Design	Opening Ceremony		[34]
2016	Interaction Design	Tellart		[34]
2016	Landscape Architecture	Hargreaves Associates		[34]
2016	Interior Design	Studio O+A		[34]
2016	Product Design	Ammunition		[34]
2017	Lifetime Achievement	Hartmut Esslinger		[35]
2017	Director's Award	Susan S. Szenasy		[35]
2017	Design Mind	Craig L. Wilkins		[35]
2017	Corporate & Institutional Achievement	Design Trust for Public Space		[35]
2017	Architecture Design	MASS Design Group		[35]
2017	Communication Design	Jennifer Morla		[35]
2017	Fashion Design	Slow and Steady Wins the Race		[35]
2017	Interaction Design	Stamen Design		[35]
2017	Landscape Architecture	Surfacedesign		[35]
2017	Interior Design	Deborah Berke Partners		[35]
2017	Product Design	Joe Doucet		[35]
2018	Lifetime Achievement	Gail Anderson		[36]
2018	Director's Award	Darren Walker		[36]
2018	Design Mind	Anne Whiston Spirn		[36]
2018	Corporate & Institutional Achievement	Design for America		[36]
2018	Architecture Design	WEISS/MANFREDI		[36]
2018	Communication Design	Civilization (Design)		[36]
2018	Fashion Design	Christina Kim		[36]
2018	Interaction Design	Neri Oxman		[36]
2018	Interior Design	Oppenheim Architecture + Design		[36]
2018	Landscape Architecture	Mikyoung Kim Design		[36]
2018	Product Design	Blu Dot		[36]
2019	Lifetime Achievement	Susan Kare		[37]
2019	Design Mind	Patricia Moore		[37]
2019	Corporate & Institutional Achievement	MIT D-Lab		[37]
2019	Architecture Design	Thomas Phifer		[37]
2019	Communication Design	Tobias Frere-Jones		[37]
2019	Fashion Design	Derek Lam		[37]
2019	Interaction Design	Ivan Poupyrev		[37]
2019	Interior Design	IwamotoScott Architecture		[37]
2019	Landscape Architecture	SCAPE Landscape Architecture		[37]
2019	Product Design	Tinker Hatfield		[37]
2019	Emerging Designer	Open Style Lab		[37]
2020	Design Visionary	Kickstarter		[38]
2020	Climate Action	Sponge Park		[38]
2020	Emerging Designer	Studio One Eighty Nine		[38]
2020	Architecture	Snøhetta		[38]
2020	Communication Design	Scott Dadich		[38]
2020	Digital Design	Design I/O		[38]
2020	Fashion Design	TELFAR		[38]
2020	Landscape Architecture	OJB Landscape Architecture		[38]
2020	Product Design	Catapult Design		[38]
2021	Design Visionary	Cheryl D. Miller		[39]
2021	Climate Action	InVert Self-Shading Window by Doris Sung		[39]
2021	Architecture and Interior Design	Ross Barney Architects		[39]
2021	Communication Design	Imaginary Forces		[39]
2021	Fashion Design	Becca McCharen-Tran		[39]
2021	Digital Design	Behnaz Farahi		[39]
2021	Landscape Architecture	Studio-MLA		[39]
2021	Product Design	BioLite		[39]
2021	Emerging Designer	Colloqate Design		[39]
2022	Design Visionary	Nader Tehrani		[40]
2022	Climate Action	WEDEW by David Hertz		[40]
2022	Emerging Designer	Emily Adams Bode		[40]
2022	Architecture / Interior Design	Rural Studio		[40]
2022	Communication Design	Giorgia Lupi		[40]
2022	Digital Design	Felecia Davis		[40]
2022	Fashion Design	Willy Chavarria		[40]
2022	Landscape Architecture	Kounkuey Design Initiative		[40]
2022	Product Design	CW&T (Che-Wei Wang and Taylor Levy)		[40]
2023	Design Visionary	Seymour Chwast		[41]
2023	Climate Action	Biocement Tiles by Biomason		[41]
2023	Architecture	nARCHITECTS		[41]
2023	Interior Design	The Archers		[41]
2023	Communication Design	Arem Duplessis		[41]
2023	Fashion Design	Naeem Khan		[41]
2023	Digital Design	Clement Mok		[41]
2023	Landscape Architecture	Kongjian Yu		[41]
2023	Product Design	Atlason		[41]
2023	Emerging Designer	Beatriz Lozano		[41]
2025	Design Visionary	Kim Hastreiter		[42]
2025	Climate Action	ilumiNACIÓN by Resilient Power Puerto Rico		[42]
2025	Emerging Designer	Nu Goteh		[42]
2025	Architecture	Michael Maltzan Architecture		[42]
2025	Interior Design	Little Wing Lee		[42]
2025	Communication Design	Matt Willey		[42]
2025	Digital Design	Emerging Objects		[42]
2025	Fashion Design	Melitta Baumeister		[42]
2025	Landscape Architecture	TERREMOTO		[42]
2025	Product Design	Jules Sherman		[42]

External links

• National Design Awards Gallery
• Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
• People's Design Award
• Smithsonian Institution