Art in Brief

IDEO SELECTS
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

"IDEO Selects," comprising about 30 objects from the Cooper-Hewitt's collection, reflects the range of the design firm's interests, as well as its respect for empirical design and its interest in generating design awareness in viewers. The show, which includes objects from the 16th century to the present, is organized under the rubric of "design thinking." Each object is considered in terms of its inspiration, empathy, and intuition, and the exhibit makes you think about how designers think and how they solve unique problems. It includes some giants of industrial and graphic design, as well as a number of innovative or unusual products, but it is geared not to wow you with beautiful things but to provoke you to think about how your world is organized.

Until January 13 (2 E. 91st St., between Fifth and Madison avenues, 212-849-8400).