Cooper-Hewitt to Host Series of “Graphic Design—Now in Production” Programs
The Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum will offer a series of public programs in conjunction with the exhibition “Graphic Design—Now in Production,” on view at Governors Island, May 26 through Sept 3. Co-organized by Walker Art Center and Cooper-Hewitt, the exhibition explores some of the most vibrant sectors and genres of graphic design today. A series of programs for adults and families will engage the public in design conversations and activities.
On select weekends, designers from the New York region will work with The Corning Museum of Glass in a series of free, public glass-design performances. GlassLab design sessions will take place next to Pershing Hall on Governors Island on Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., June 30 through July 29. The designers will bring their sketchbooks and concepts and work side-by-side with glassmakers in a unique mobile hotshop developed by The Corning Museum of Glass. The teams will prototype their design ideas in live glassblowing sessions, allowing audiences to watch the evolution of the designs as they are created.
“Graphic design gives shape to thousands of artifacts we encounter each day—from posters, magazines, and books to film titles, websites and digital interfaces,” said Ellen Lupton, senior curator of contemporary design at Cooper-Hewitt. “These public programs delve deeper into the exhibition themes and provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and further interact with design and designers.”
“The museum offers a rich variety of public programs for all ages and experience levels, from toddlers to professional designers,” said Caroline Payson, director of education at Cooper-Hewitt. “We’re so pleased to present these programs, many of which are offered free of charge, and engage a larger audience to examine design thinking.”
Public programs include:
Family Programs; Saturdays, June 2, June 16, July 7, July 21, Aug. 4, Aug. 18 and Sept. 1; 11 a.m.; Sundays, June 3, June 16, July 8, July 22, Aug. 5, Aug. 19 and Sept. 2; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Governors Island (Building 110)
Free family programs inspired by the exhibition, featuring fun and simple activities that encourage experimentation with materials and new techniques. Free. Advance registration is suggested at www.cooperhewitt.org/calendar.
Post-Digital Culture and Spanish Design; Saturday, June 2; 2 p.m.
Governors Island (Building 110)
Leading designers from Spain, the U.S. and abroad will discuss their work and the state of graphic design in today’s global, connected design world. Topics will include: How is the convergence of hand processes, traditional printing methods and digital production creating new ways to create and consume media? Free. Advance registration is suggested at www.cooperhewitt.org/calendar.
Wicked Problems in Type Design; Tuesday, June 19; 6:30 p.m.
Cooper Union, Rose Auditorium (7 East Seventh Street, New York)
Co-organized by Type@Cooper and Cooper-Hewitt, six leading and emerging voices in the field of type design talk about problems central to their work. Each speaker will address a burning question concerning the design, use, culture, technology or business of fonts and typefaces. General admission, $10. Cooper-Hewitt members are admitted free, with registration. Advance registration is required at www.cooperhewitt.org/calendar.
Graphic Design—Under Discussion; Thursday, July 19; 7 p.m.
Parsons, Tishman Auditorium (66 West 12th Street, New York)
Co-sponsored by Cooper-Hewitt and AIGA NY, curators and a panel of designers and critics will discuss: Why this show now? What does the exhibition aim to achieve? What questions does it raise? What will the field look like 15 years from now? General admission, $30. Cooper-Hewitt members are admitted free, with registration at www.cooperhewitt.org/calendar.
Indie Publishing: Books, Magazines and Monsters; Saturday, July 21; 2 p.m.
Governors Island (Building 110)
Meet editors, designers and authors of independent books and magazines. Learn about the ups and downs of print and media in the new millennium. Free. Advance registration is suggested at www.cooperhewitt.org/calendar.
America’s Most-Wanted Eco Poster; Saturday, Aug. 25; 2 p.m. Governors Island (Building 110) Be a part of history as Ed Morris, the co-author of Green Patriot Posters, leads a team of designers, thinkers, environmentalists and audience participants in creating America’s Most-Wanted Eco-Poster in real time. The program will include a discussion of the history of environmental and activist imagery, the current state of the environmental movement and the efficacy of art and design. Free. Advance registration is suggested at www.cooperhewitt.org/calendar.
Graphic Design—The Final Hours; Saturday, Sept. 1; 2 p.m.
Governors Island (Building 110)
The field’s leading practitioners will discuss life, death and visual communications. Hear about how new and old media are changing how designers work, commiserate on the loss of some of the world’s greatest logotypes and celebrate the birth of new design methods and talents. Free. Advance registration is suggested at www.cooperhewitt.org/calendar.
“Graphic Design—Now in Production” is co-organized by the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York and the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis.
Cooper-Hewitt’s presentation is made possible by support from the August Heckscher Exhibition Fund and Converse.
Additional support is provided by the Ehrenkranz Fund, Behance, the Esme Usdan Exhibition Endowment Fund, Cooper-Hewitt Master’s Program Fund, public funds from the Netherlands Cultural Services and the Netherland-America Foundation.
Media sponsorship provided by New York magazine and AOL.
About the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum
Founded in 1897, Cooper-Hewitt is the only museum in the nation devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design. The museum presents compelling perspectives on the impact of design on daily life through active educational programs, exhibitions and publications.
Cooper-Hewitt’s main facility, housed in the Carnegie Mansion, is undergoing renovation as part of a $64 million capital campaign that includes enlarged and enhanced facilities for exhibitions, collections display, education programming and the National Design Library, and an increased endowment. The renovated facility is scheduled to reopen in 2014. During the renovation, Cooper-Hewitt’s usual schedule of exhibitions, education programs and events are being staged at various off-site locations.
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