Its been 25 years since Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum launched its annual National Design Awards, an official project of the White House Millennium Council. The latest, 25th round of award winners was announced this week, a batch which reflects Smithsonian values of innovation and civic service, the institution said. As in past iterations, the ten recipients come from a range of design disciplines, including architecture, landscape architecture, fashion, communications, media, interiors, digital, and production design. Emerging designers and climate visionaries were also recognized.The 2025 National Design Award winners include: designers Kim Hastreiter, Nu Goteh, Matt Willey, Melitta Baumeister, Jules Sherman, and Little Wing Lee; climate activist group ilumiNACIN by Resilient Power Puerto Rico; David Godshall and Alain Peauroi of landscape architecture firm TERREMOTO; architect Michael Maltzan; and Ronald Rael and Virginia San Fratello of Emerging Objects.The 2025 National Design Award winners (Courtesy Cooper Hewitt)For its dedication to climate action, Resilient Power Puerto Rico (RPPR), a San Juanbased nonprofit, took home the award. The entity is led by its executive director Alejandra Castrodad-Rodrguez, in collaboration with Victor Cuadrado Landrau and Gustavo Castrodad Rodrguez. The group drives equitable and sustainable climate solutions while strengthening communities capacity to respond, rebuild and prosper after extreme climate events, the Smithsonian said.Nu Goteh is cofounder, managing partner, and creative director of Deem Journal. The jury applauded Goteh for his work at the forefront of an emerging generation of designers who integrate design, culture, art, community and social practice, awarding the professional in the emerging designer category. Matt Willey also comes from an editorial background, having worked at The New York Review of Books, Paris Review, and The Independent in various capacities, making his recognition in the communication design category well-deserved. Hastreiter, recognized as a design visionary, works as a cultural anthropologist. She is recognized for her art, zines, books, social media, and podcasts. Hastreiter helped cofound and worked as creative director at PAPER, a pop culture and fashion magazine. Meanwhile, Emerging Objects, Michael Maltzan, Little Wing Lee, and TERREMOTO were recognized for their contributions in architecture, landscape architecture, and interior design.These winners join a growing list of more than 200 National Design Award alumni. The selection committee was helmed by Smithsonian Design Museum director Maria Nicanor and Maurice Cox, chair of the 2025 National Design Awards jury.For Maria Nicanor, director of the museum, the award series is about emphasizing how design itself touches all aspects of our lives every single dayfrom the buildings we live, learn and work in, to the physical and digital systems that deliver our basic services, the clothes we wear, the spaces we gather in or the creativity and beauty that help us understand ourselves as a nationand yet designs undeniable influence can go unseen.The 2025 award winners will be recognized at a formal dinner on April 3 at James Burden Mansion.