Design for Change
“Design Hive provided me with a great networking and creative opportunity that I still hold dear. I loved working with the group, having a chance to collaborate, and learning from peers and creatives in the field.” – Daniela Contreras, Design Hive graduate
When Chamod Dhikkumbura was a young boy, he loved creating and drawing. Now he studies fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology and has interned with designer Christian Cowan.
“One of my most important achievements in my career has been the opportunity to be a part of Design Hive,” he says. “The program helped me explore more things out of my comfort zone of fashion.”
Design Hive, the teen design residency at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, allows young people to dream big in a safe space.
The six-month program provides mentorship and practical education across design fields, encouraging students to explore the world of design and develop critical skills.
(Left) Crosscheck chair, Designed by Frank O. Gehry, manufactured by Knoll, Inc., 1994. Gift of Joel and Anne Ehrenkranz; (Right) Inspired by Frank Gehry’s Cross Check Chair, student Kaveh Bahar created a cardboard prototype replica.
“We hope that they gain competencies that are important for anyone,” says Kirsten McNally, manager of teen programs at the museum, “to solve problems creatively, take actionable steps toward something, work together, and take a big idea and learn how to generate ideas around it.”
Through hands-on workshops, studio visits and sessions with curators and designers, these young learners develop crucial communication, presentation and collaboration skills that prepare them for whichever career paths they choose. The program also partners students with professional designers as mentors who provide guidance on their final projects.
In addition to developing college and career readiness, students begin to see design as a tool for change and feel empowered to make a difference through creative pursuits.
As a paid internship with a $2,000 stipend, Design Hive expands access for teens who would not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in a program like this. One of its primary goals is to make young people feel like they belong at the museum and envision themselves in the design world.
Student mood board created with design firm Ishka Designs. IMAGE Sara Albasuony
The 2024 cohort centered on the museum’s exhibition Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial. In one of the workshops, students tackled the question, What does “home” mean to you? The result was a diverse mix of pieces, including a patchwork zine, a short film and a photo collage. In another workshop, inspired by Italian designer Enzo Mari’s furniture collection, students were tasked with creating their own versions of Mari’s Sedia Chair.
One of the final projects for the 2024 cohort was a prototype for a mental health app with a significant focus on the user experience. Students conducted research and user interviews, critical components to an accessible product, learning that successful design prioritizes the people that use it.
Alumni often credit the program for helping to realize future careers. One student who worked on Design Hive in 2020 now works for the program. Another recently graduated from an architecture program with a minor in sustainability.
Design learning at Cooper Hewitt is made possible by Adobe and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, as well as the Hirsch Family Foundation, the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, The Pinkerton Foundation, PwC Charitable Foundation, the Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation, Siegel Family Endowment and Smithsonian’s Together We Thrive.
Published Summer 2025 in IMPACT Vol. 11. No 2
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