The 10th Annual National Design Awards

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Waters was on hand to present an award for product design to Boym Partners, as part of the festivities, which were hosted by the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum at Cipriani’s 42nd Street branch. Mendes, meanwhile, was there to celebrate Francisco Costa as the winner of the fashion design award for his work for Calvin Klein.

It wasn’t just Waters and Mendes who were in good spirits for the event, though. The recent wave of spring weather in the city seemed to be suiting all of the attendees, who looked uniformly dashing. Paula Zahn, the evening’s emcee, warmly greeted guests, though no one seemed to need a prodding to have a good time.

The art world had a strong showing in the awards. Painter Chuck Close took to the stage during the ceremony to present a prize for corporate and institutional achievement to the Walker Art Center. He was joined at the event by art representatives that included sculptor Ursula von Rydingsvard, painter Chuck Close, and P.S.1 chairwoman Agnes Gund, who looked resplendent in a dark blue dress with a shimmering white-and-black scarf draped around her shoulders.

Renaissance twins Andrew and Andrew spun records as guests shimmied around the auditorium greeting one another and looking impossibly smart. The sight brought to mind that supposed quip of designer Tibor Kalman: “The difference between good design and great design is intelligence.”

Click the photo gallery to see more action from the National Design Awards.