Top designers who are also into reality television may apply to compete on shows like Project Runway or Top Design, but the best of the best may be recognized for their talent by Michele Obama herself. This year, the National Design Awards were honored by the White House, with the First Lady presiding over the recipients. The National Design Awards commend America's top designers and are overseen by the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. The program also aims to raise awareness of the design industry and it's professionals. According to the New York Times, Michele Obama thanked the designers, addressing them with the words, "your work is both technical and poetic, educational and inspirational," concluding by saying " thank you for inspiring the next generation." For those who hope to break into the design industry, the Bureau of Labor Statistics offers some inspiring figures. Individuals interested in fashion design should note that in 2008, the top 10 % in their field earned $124,780 on average per year. The median annual wage for employees in this field was still positive, on average $61,160 per year.  |