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February 2024 by Michael Ellsworth
The museum is housed in a gorgeous palatial mansion, and the cafe and seating space while entering are charming, a real oasis in the city. However, currently the main collection is closed for maintenance and reinstallion, meaning that only two relatively small and inconsequential, though intriguing, were open to the public. Even though the ticket price was "reduced" to $19, it still seemed to be grossly out of proportion for a short experience that had essentially nothing to do with the purpose of the museum – to display the history and highlights of American design. Frankly the ticket sellers and the website should have made much more clear how limited the exhibition space was - especially considering it's a Smithsonian and much grander Smithsonians like the National Gallery or Natural History in DC are always free.
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February 2024 by S S
I entered the museum for free using my New York Culture Pass.The Guttenheim Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are nearby, so I think it would be a good idea to visit them at the same time.The third floor has a project mapping room that is especially impressive.There is a workshop area on the first floor.When I went there was a workshop where you could make original marks and add them to the exhibit.There was also equipment on display that allowed students to draw illustrations and turn them into three-dimensional furniture and clothing designs.There are few customers, so you can enjoy the view in peace and quiet.On the other hand, the security staff are numerous and helpful.It feels like a museum that spends a lot of money on maintenance.I can't deny that it's a bit plain compared to other museums nearby, but I think it's a highly satisfying museum.Time required: 1 hour
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February 2024 by W Y
This design museum was established in 1897 by 3 Hewitt sisters(Peter Cooper’s granddaughters). Once part of Cooper Union. It’s taken over by the Smithsonian in late 1960s, and moved to the exquisite Andrew Carnegie Mansion in Manhattan in 1970. It’s the first Smithsonian museum outside of Washington, D.C. It’s also the only museum in the United States devoted to historical and contemporary design.
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January 2024 by Eon M
I came to this museum on an assignment for my art school class. I was really excited for the series of exhibitions, but the moment I came in I was continuously stared at and followed by the guards into each room I entered. Every time I turned my head, I saw 5 pairs of eyes on me. 1 guard followed me into each room the entire time. After a while I noticed I was the only one being treated this way. It was very distracting and distressing; I was trying to concentrate on my work and enjoy the exhibitions but I felt grossed out from being watched and followed excessively, like I was being stalked. Finally, when I walked into the gift shop and picked up a book to read the back’s synopsis, a guard yelled at me that if I wasn’t going to buy it I need to put it down. The entire store went quiet. I honestly teared up at this point. I don’t think I’ll be back here. I get needing security to protect priceless works, but there was no need to take it to extremes. It felt like I was clocked as poor and as someone who doesn’t belong visiting there. Like yes, I am a poor student — but aren’t art museums for everyone? I was clean and wearing clothing designs I made, but even if I wasn’t clean or quiet or w.e is acceptable to this space — no one deserves being treated this way. An institution was such blazing red flags is bound to lack integrity elsewhere, but I won’t stick around to find out I’m afraid.
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January 2024 by George Ellsworth Turnbull
Design museum in a stunning building! The current Es Devlin's retrospective exhibition, one of the best of 2023 on till August 2024 - over the top. Entertainingly educational as the rest of the exhibits of historic and contemporary design. Impressive interactivity's provide a variety of learning experiences. Cozy Café inside and out into a magical garden where someone actually lived albeit 100+ years ago. Continuing rotation of thought provoking educational entertainment for curious minds. The building itself worthy of an afternoon of admiration.
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January 2024 by Leslie Williston
This museum was nice and had a fun exhibit on Es Devlin. Would recommend if you care about design, but i probably wouldn’t haven paid to come here. Get a culture pass if you have a library card
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January 2024 by Betty Lin
Always have a great visiting this museum of design. The staff are extremely friendly (I had a 45-minute conversation with a well-versed man named Garfield where he went in detail explaining the stories of how the museum came to be and the architecture of Carnegie's mansion) and the different exhibits teach you so much about what goes into design thinking. This museum can take a day, as it is not enormous, and it is definitely worth going to.
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January 2024 by Rhett Claypool
Laid back, interesting experience
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December 2023 by Sarah Hurlbert
My mind encountered genius at every turn.
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December 2023 by Alex Chernyaev
It was okay to see it once but that's not the kind of museum you want to attend the second time, it's relatively small and very focused, if you're really interested in this particular designer and in textile then you will find it okay. Pretty pricey though
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December 2023 by Rosaline Landsiedel
An Amazing museum with fantastic exhibition, let alone it is housed in a magnificent grand old house
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December 2023 by The Festive Anthropologist
This review is solely for the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Shop, and specifically in reference to how amazing and helpful both Andrea Lujan and Paul Beasley were in helping me secure a copy of ‘An Atlas of Es Devlin’!I was really hoping to get 1 out of the first print run of 5,000 copies, and my local book shop couldn’t assure me they could get their hands on a copy. Luckily, the museum shop offered a feature where I could add my name to a list, was contacted within days when it became available, and already have the book in hand! (And with free shipping, no less!)Will definitely be shopping from here again, and can’t wait to visit the exhibition (after studying the monograph, naturally).Thank you again Andrea!
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November 2023 by Jeff Franzen
"Visited the Cooper Hewitt Museum recently and it was a delightful experience. The exhibits are wonderfully curated, blending history with modern design. It's a must-visit for anyone who appreciates creativity and innovation. A hidden gem!"
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August 2023 by Troy H.
Tl ;dr - Fuck this place. Longer, with no invective: I was really early for my Guggenheim time, but I saw that this place was a couple of blocks away. I like design, am a lifetime art student, so let's go.Not only was the museum open, it's closed door was guarded by a surly security guard in FULL ARMOR. He stood with his hands behind his back, but when I approached, his hand went down slowly to his sidearm. In America, I guess paid security forces decide whether you should have art or not. After hurrying away, I found that you needed a ticket to even go to the museum shop. No art museum I've ever been to demands that you buy a ticket to go to their onsite store. Ridiculous. They can have whatever they got in there. I have no desire to see it.
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August 2023 by Samrudha Dixit
Amazing design museum. At the moment there are two exhibits. On the first level is dedicated to textile and fashion designer Dorothy Liebes. The ground level has exhibits about symbols. The old building itself is beautiful with preserved wallpapers, wooden panels, furniture, lighting, and stairway. This museum is a must visit for Design enthusiasts.
