Congratulations to all of the winners and finalists!

B | May 12, 12:39 PM

Come on!

I have no idea how many products were nominated, but you’re telling me that your jury believes that two of the most important products made in the US this year are painted wood figurines and a bent polycarbonate table!

We have very different views about what constitutes important product design work in the US today.

BTW – congratulations to Antenna Design.

Ed Dorsa | May 12, 02:42 PM

Ed, thank you for your comments. To clarify, the National Design Awards are given based on a body of work over the course of a career rather than for any single design or project. While the honorees tend to reflect the state of contemporary design, the jury is asked to evaluate the broader achievement, innovation and impact of each of the nominees. If you’re curious to learn more about the selection process, I would encourage you to attend the Jury Panel on May 13 or watch it live on our Web site.

Caroline Payson | May 12, 06:41 PM

Caroline, thanks for your response and for clarifying your criteria, but it really doesn’t change my opinion of these awards at all – in fact, it makes it worse.

Given all the important product design work taking place in the US today, for the jury to choose to award a couple whose major contributions to design are desk accessories and tchotchkes, and a designer who has never done anything more important than a vacuum cleaner – and a not-very-good-one at that, means that my original statement (We have very different views about what constitutes important product design work in the US today) still stands.

I guess I’ll just have to look for awards that consider product design as something more than eye-candy.

Ed Dorsa | May 13, 08:53 AM

The range of people selected for the Product Design award—Antenna, Karim Rashid, and Boym Partners—presents a rich picture of design practice today. Antenna are working with cutting-edge technology at the interface of products and information; Karim Rashid is creating consumer products for a variety of markets; and the Boyms are enriching the critical vocabulary of design through their writing, teaching, objects, and installations. They are not just making things, but creating a dialogue. Of course, the field of product design includes more voices and points of view than can be expressed in a single array of winners and finalists. Each year, a different jury makes these choices in response to what is happening in the field.

Ellen Lupton | May 13, 04:23 PM

Ralph Rucci is a brilliant designer whose clothes are beautiful. However, Thom Browne should have won the Fashion Design award. His collections show a level of innovation and creativity unmatched even by a designer as talented as Ralph Rucci.

Alfred Worthington | May 14, 02:10 PM

I have been an admirer of Tom Kundig’s architectural work for a very long time. It is gratifying to see him win this award. He makes houses that are a delight to live in, a delight to the eye from every angle at any time of day, and that are sensitive to their settings. Bravissimo.

Susi Johnston | Jul 11, 03:05 AM

Diane Lewis’s work is brilliant-a wonderful combination of elegance and intellectual content… I look forward to seeing more and more of her work.

Eleanor | Jul 16, 11:19 AM

In October of 2001, the Organization of Black Designers held its conference in Miami. Following the historic events of 9-11 as we know it, I had reservations about attending. I am glad I did.
Charles Harrison was a speaker at that conference and I had the opportunity to ride to the airport after the conference in a cab with him. It was an amazing experience to be so close to history! It is a memory I will cherish, forever. I use items he designed along with some others when I make my rounds as a guest speaker at various Career Days in Philadelphia Schools, with the question…What do these products have in common… They were designed by a person of color.
Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s few artists/designers of color were introduced to me. Henry O Tanner’s Banjo Lesson was my image of hope, I focused on the mantra, if he can, I can. Congrats to Mr. Harrison. Well deserved!

Monna | Jul 21, 04:35 PM

This is a truly exciting group, particularly the acknowledgment of the smart simple work produced at OPEN. So many young, ambitious design studios spend ample energy doing great work in a humble tradition and go unnoticed—leaving the media overrun with the same old names with the same tired mantras who benefit from larger firm systems and resources for disseminating their ideas. Though members of the older guard are still a part of this list, we at co:lab are filled with hope as we look past them and offer a big thumbs-up to Open.
Also: I’d like to join in applauding inclusion of Charles Harrison. His work embodies the often trivialized sensibility that the everyday consumer value system trumps the corporate value system and not vice-versa. Designing for the people instead of down to the people. Now that’s strangely refreshing.

Thank you again Cooper-Hewitt. These selections tell the real story of the day> high ideals + humble service are not mutually exclusive, but are indeed the fundamentals of clearly a whole lot more than just design.

rich holla nt / co:lab | Aug 30, 04:01 PM