The exhibition title asks the question “Why Design Now?” to examine why design thinking is an essential tool for solving some of today’s most urgent problems; what draws creative thinkers, makers and problem solvers to this crucial field of discovery; and why business leaders, policy makers, consumers and citizens should embrace design values.
Key developments across design disciplines will be presented through eight themes: energy, mobility, community, materials, prosperity, health, communication and simplicity. Coulomb’s charging station, designed by Silicon Valley-based Interform, is featured in the “Mobility” showcase as an example of design that allows people to travel across town or over a continent while conserving resources. The charging station will be on display from May 14, 2010 through Jan. 9, 2011 in New York City.
“We are delighted and honored that the Smithsonian’s Cooper-Hewitt selected Coulomb’s ChargePoint charging station as an example of an innovative design solution for mobility patterns and components,” said Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb Technologies. “Peter Muller and his design team at Interform were essential to bringing these charging stations to market quickly and efficiently. We hope that the thousands of people who attend the exhibition will be moved to consider purchasing an electric vehicle knowing that the infrastructure needed to bring this movement to reality is on its way.”
Organized by Cooper-Hewitt curators Ellen Lupton, Cara McCarty, Matilda McQuaid and Cynthia Smith, the Triennial will be global in reach for the first time, reflecting the connectedness of design practices and the need for international cooperation to solve the world’s problems. The curatorial team chose the designers and firms by group consensus and also collected nominations from the public through a dedicated Web site.
“This groundbreaking exhibition gives voice to a revolution taking place within all areas of design practice, from how materials and products are planned and conceived to how goods and services are manufactured, distributed and reclaimed worldwide,” said McCarty, curatorial director of the museum. ‘Why Design Now?’ takes a positive look at the intriguing and ambitious projects shaping this revolution.”
“National Design Triennial: Why Design Now?” is sponsored by GE. Generous support is provided by Agnes Bourne, the Norwegian Consulate General in New York, the Esme Usdan Exhibition Endowment Fund, the Ministry of Culture Denmark, and public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Additional funding is provided by Leonard Polonsky and Georgette Bennett, The Consulate General of Switzerland in New York, and the Office of Cultural Affairs, Consulate General of Israel in New York.
About Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum is the only museum in the nation devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design. Founded in 1897 by Amy, Eleanor, and Sarah Hewitt— granddaughters of industrialist Peter Cooper—as part of the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, the museum has been a branch of the Smithsonian since 1967. The museum presents compelling perspectives on the impact of design on daily life through active educational programs, exhibitions and publications.
The museum is located at 2 East 91st Street at Fifth Avenue in New York City. Hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The museum is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Public transit routes include the Lexington Avenue 4, 5 and 6 subways (86th or 96th Street stations) and the Fifth and Madison Avenue buses. General admission, $15; senior citizens and students ages 12 and older, $10. Cooper-Hewitt and Smithsonian members and children younger than age 12 are admitted free. For further information, please call (212) 849-8400 or visit http://www.cooperhewitt.org. The museum is fully accessible.
Coulomb Technologies is the leader in electric vehicle charging station infrastructure with networked charging stations installed in municipalities and organizations worldwide. Coulomb provides a vehicle-charging infrastructure, with an open system driver network: the ChargePoint Network (www.mychargepoint.net) provides multiple web-based portals for Hosts, Fleet managers, Drivers, and Utilities, and ChargePoint Networked Charging Stations ranging in capability from 120 Volt to 240 Volt AC charging and up to 500 Volt DC charging.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/chargepoint/id356866743
