Re-opened in 2014 after a three year renovation, the new Cooper Hewitt was described by The Atlantic as “the museum of the future”. The new museum features a suite of integrated interactive experiences aimed at transforming and expanding the museum’s visitor base as well as expanding its interpretive, curatorial and exhibition capacities. The interactive experience at the Smithsonian Cooper Hewitt Design Museum gives visitors the ability to ‘save’ objects, ‘create’ their own designs, and explore the collection through a suite of different interfaces throughout the museum.
With its unprecedented scale, the project has generated enthusiasm throughout the community and provides the sector with many elements to reflect upon. In these pages, we are collecting writings about this seminal project, and inviting further questions and comment.