While the Cooper Hewitt Museum is closed for renovations, and the government is shut down as of yesterday, the Smithsonian’s People’s Choice Design Awards program continues, online. This annual event invites the public to think about the impact of design and to broaden the conversation about how innovative design makes a difference in our everyday lives.

You can vote for your favorite in a field of 20 nominated designs including transportation solutions, designs for healthy living, educational products, interactive design, landscape design, medical devices, emergency preparedness tools, and socially responsible design.

The People’s Design Award was initiated by the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in 2006 to complement its annual National Design Awards, which were announced in September by First Lady Michelle Obama. Past winners include the Katrina Cottage and Toms Shoes to a Braille Alphabet Bracelet and Debbie Millman‘s Design Matters.

My votes goe to the Tiny Mushroom House, created by Ecovative of Green Island NY, using their unique and sustainable mushroom insulation. Information.

Voting continues until October 11^th, with winners to be announced live on October 17^th at the National Design Awards Gala in New York [provided the government shutdown has been lifted]. And you can vote for your favorite every day, once day, here.