Design Museum Management: Examining the Structure and Policies of the Cooper- Hewitt National Design Museum with Implications for Best Practice

The purpose of this study was to examine the structure and policies of a contemporary western design museum. In so doing, the role of design in society, the characteristics that distinguish design from art, and the history of design were explored, and selected existing design museums throughout the world were reviewed. In addition, the notions of design and design museums were defined and discussed in the context of museums and socio-cultural studies, particularly in relation to why and how design museums have shaped and been shaped by cultural and political knowledge in Europe and the United States.