Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum launched the National High School Design Competition in 2016. Every year, students around the country are challenged to design a solution to a unique scenario, inspired by Cooper Hewitt’s rich collection and stimulating exhibitions.
See the 2026 program prompt here
Location(s)
- Remote
Schedule
- Competition opens in December and ends in May with a virtual Regional Winners Day with guest designers and Cooper Hewitt staff
Cost/Compensation
- Free
Eligibility Requirements
- Students must be a high school student in grades 9-12, between the ages of 13-19
Deadline
- February 2, 2026
Application or Entry Requirements
- See the 2026 challenge design prompt here
- Your name and contact information, and the names and contact information for all team members, if applicable. Note: Only one team member should create an account and submit your entry on behalf of the team.
- An upload of your design sketch as a .jpg (must be at least 8.5 x 11″ at 300 dpi), or alternate file type
- Responses to design challenge questions
- An upload of your signed parent/legal guardian consent form as a .pdf or .jpg file (must be 300 dpi). The form must be completed and uploaded, and don’t forget the signature! If you are submitting a team entry, each team member must submit a signed parent/legal guardian consent form.
Notifications of Decisions
- April 7, 2026: Five regional winners are announced online and will be displayed on the Cooper Hewitt website along with featured designs from across the country
- May 16, 2026: Regional winners attend a Virtual Regional Winners Day and meet guest designers and Cooper Hewitt staff
- April 7, 2026: Five regional winners are announced online and will be displayed on the Cooper Hewitt website along with featured designs from across the country
- May 16, 2026: Regional winners attend a Virtual Regional Winners Day and meet guest designers and Cooper Hewitt staff
Financial Aid Details
Other Dates to Keep in Mind
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Founded in 1897 by Sarah and Eleanor Hewitt, the granddaughters of industrialist Peter Cooper, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum advances the public understanding of design through dynamic, interactive exhibitions, stimulating programming, and a broad array of online learning resources. A 21st-century museum housed in New York City’s landmark Carnegie Mansion, Cooper Hewitt offers four floors of galleries dedicated to all disciplines of design, a permanent collection of more than 215,000 design objects fully digitized and available online, and a world-class design library. Cooper Hewitt is the only museum in the United States devoted exclusively to historical and contemporary design, and is the steward of one of the most diverse and comprehensive design collections in existence. Cooper Hewitt’s collection serves as inspiration for creative work of all kinds and tells the story of design’s paramount importance in improving our world.
